Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank. Determine the collocation through the sentence.
The drowning fisherman waved his hands ___________ to get the attention of the rescue team.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
The correct answer is option 4 i.e. Frantically.
Context: The sentence describes a fisherman trying to attract the attention of a rescue team. The blank requires a word that naturally collocates with “waved his hands” in a manner that conveys urgency and panic.
Meaning of the words:
Strongly – With force; conveys strength but not panic
Softly – Gently; inappropriate for urgent signaling
Poorly – Badly; does not fit context
Frantically – With wild or urgent emotion; fits the context perfectly
Correct word: Frantically
Reason: “Frantically” accurately conveys the desperate effort of the drowning fisherman trying to signal for help.
Final Sentence: The drowning fisherman waved his hands frantically to get the attention of the rescue team.
Hence, the chosen option is correct.