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.
they are ever so grateful that they are _____________ by their governments
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.
they are ever so grateful that they are _____________ by their governments
Options:
- to pay
- being paid
- pay up
- paying
- to pay
- being paid
- pay up
- paying
Correct Answer: b)
Explanation:
Detailed Explanation:
The correct alternative to fill the blank is b) being paid.
- Grammar Rule (Passive Voice Construction):
- The clause is: “they are ever so grateful that they are _____________ by their governments to do something that they would have done anyhow for free.”
- Here, the scientists (they) are the recipients of the payment, and the governments are the performing agent introduced by “by” (by their governments).
- Therefore, the clause requires a passive voice verb structure.
- The present continuous passive form is: are + being + past participle (V3) → “are being paid”.
- This conveys that scientists are continually receiving remuneration/funding from their governments for their scientific research.
- Why other options are incorrect:
- to pay: Active infinitive; implies the scientists are paying the governments, which contradicts the entire context.
- pay up: Bare infinitive / phrasal verb; ungrammatical after the auxiliary are.
- paying: Active present participle; would mean scientists are paying their governments.
Hence, Option b) being paid is correct.
विस्तृत व्याख्या:
रिक्त स्थान की पूर्ति के लिए सही विकल्प b) being paid है।
- व्याकरणिक नियम (Passive Voice संरचना):
- उपवाक्य है: “they are ever so grateful that they are _____________ by their governments to do something that they would have done anyhow for free.”
- यहाँ वैज्ञानिक (they) वेतन/अनुदान के प्राप्तकर्ता हैं, तथा सरकारें कार्य करने वाली एजेंट हैं, जिन्हें “by their governments” द्वारा दर्शाया गया है।
- अतः यहाँ Passive Voice (कर्मवाच्य) की आवश्यकता है।
- Present Continuous Passive की संरचना होती है: are + being + V3 (Past Participle) → “are being paid”।
- इसका अर्थ है कि वैज्ञानिकों को उनकी सरकारों द्वारा शोध कार्य के लिए वेतन या भुगतान किया जा रहा है।
- अन्य विकल्प क्यों गलत हैं:
- to pay: Active Infinitive; इसका अर्थ निकलेगा कि वैज्ञानिक सरकारों को भुगतान कर रहे हैं, जो संदर्भ के बिल्कुल विपरीत है।
- pay up: सहायक क्रिया are के बाद ‘pay up’ व्याकरणिक रूप से अमान्य है।
- paying: Active Present Participle; यह कर्ता द्वारा भुगतान करने का अर्थ देगा।
अतः सही उत्तर विकल्प b) being paid है।