1. years________since I saw her last. A. have passed B. had passed C. had been passing D. have been passing

Question

Each of the following sentences in this section has a blank space and four words or group of words given after the sentence. Select the word of group of words you consider most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly. most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.

1. years________since I saw her last. 

A. have passed 

B. had passed 

C. had been passing 

D. have been passing 

2. When he heard the terrible noise he asked me what was ______on. 

A. happening 

B. being 

C. getting 

D. going 

3. Could you lend me some money? I am very _______of cash at the moment.

A. down 

B. low 

C. short 

D. scarce 

4. I saw her when she ws standing______ the side of the old statue.

A. by 

B. at 

C. in 

D. beyond 

5. True friends never________their loved ones in adversity. 

A. abuse 

B. criticize 

C. befool 

D. desert

Answer 1

Correct option

1. A. have passed

2. D. going

3. C. short 

4. A. by

5. D. desert   

Explanation:

1.  The present perfect tense “have passed” should be used in the blank to indicate that something happened in the past, while implying that the exact time is not important. Hence, option A is the correct answer. 

2. “Happening’ would have been correct if the blank were not succeeded by the preposition “on”. Among the rest, only “going (on)” will form the correct phrasal vern. Thus, option D is the correct answer.

3.  “To be short” of cash or money implies that one has less money than required or has run out of it. Thus, option C is the most appropriate filler. 

4.  The usage of the phrase “side of” indicates that the “by” is the most appropriate preposition to be used. “By the side of” means beside. Thus, option A is the correct filler. 

5. Adversity refers to hard times. With respect to the context of the sentence, true friends will not leave alone/ desert their friends in bad times. Thus, option D is the most appropriate choice. The other options do not fit the context of the passage.