Question:
In the following passage, some of the words have been left out. Read the passage carefully and select the correct answer for the given blank out of the
four alternatives.
Science is all about details, precision, accuracy, and it is ____________ 99 per cent perspiration. The beauty and joy in doing science lies in those rare moments
_____________ the pieces of a puzzle magically come together. To adapt from Shelley, the shadow indeed becomes ____________ important than the substance. I
suppose one could put some of this together and disseminate a simplified, sanitised version to the public but in the end, science is a ___________ individualistic,
personal affair. Most honest scientists will tell you that they are ever so grateful that they are _____________ by their governments to do something that they would
have done anyhow for free.
the shadow indeed becomes ____________ important than the substance.
In the following passage, some of the words have been left out. Read the passage carefully and select the correct answer for the given blank out of the
four alternatives.
Science is all about details, precision, accuracy, and it is ____________ 99 per cent perspiration. The beauty and joy in doing science lies in those rare moments
_____________ the pieces of a puzzle magically come together. To adapt from Shelley, the shadow indeed becomes ____________ important than the substance. I
suppose one could put some of this together and disseminate a simplified, sanitised version to the public but in the end, science is a ___________ individualistic,
personal affair. Most honest scientists will tell you that they are ever so grateful that they are _____________ by their governments to do something that they would
have done anyhow for free.
the shadow indeed becomes ____________ important than the substance.
Options:
- to
- more
- as
- so
- to
- more
- as
- so
Correct Answer: b)
Explanation:
Detailed Explanation:
The correct alternative to fill the blank is b) more.
- Grammar Rule (Degrees of Comparison):
- The sentence contains the conjunction “than” (“than the substance”), indicating a comparison between two entities (the shadow vs. the substance).
- The adjective “important” is polysyllabic (three syllables), and its comparative degree is formed by preceding it with “more”: more important than.
- Sentence in context: “To adapt from Shelley, the shadow indeed becomes more important than the substance.”
- Why other options are incorrect:
- to: Preposition or infinitive marker; cannot form a comparative degree.
- as: Used in positive/equative degree constructions (as important as), never followed by than.
- so: Used in negative equative comparisons (not so important as) or degree clauses (so important that), never with than.
Hence, Option b) more is correct.
विस्तृत व्याख्या:
रिक्त स्थान की पूर्ति के लिए सही विकल्प b) more है।
- व्याकरणिक नियम (Degrees of Comparison):
- वाक्य में रिक्त स्थान के बाद “than” (“than the substance”) का प्रयोग हुआ है, जो दो वस्तुओं (छाया और वास्तविक पदार्थ) के बीच तुलना को दर्शाता है।
- “Important” एक बहु-शब्दांश (Polysyllabic) विशेषण है, जिसकी Comparative Degree बनाने के लिए इससे पहले “more” लगाया जाता है (more important than)।
- संदर्भ में वाक्य: “To adapt from Shelley, the shadow indeed becomes more important than the substance.” (शैली से अनुकूलित करें, तो छाया वास्तव में मूल पदार्थ से अधिक महत्वपूर्ण हो जाती है।)
- अन्य विकल्प क्यों गलत हैं:
- to: प्रीपोजिशन है; यह तुलनात्मक डिग्री नहीं बना सकता।
- as: ‘as…as’ की संरचना में समानता दर्शाने के लिए आता है, ‘than’ के साथ नहीं।
- so: ‘so…as’ या ‘so…that’ संरचना में आता है, ‘than’ के साथ नहीं।
अतः सही उत्तर विकल्प b) more है।