Question 1 - Gap Filling - Grammar - English Class 9

Read the passage given below and fill in the blanks by choosing the most appropriate words from the given options:

Indian cuisines are known worldwide particularly for (a) ............. hot spicy curries involving (b) ............. excessive use of chilies and aromatic spices, enough to stimulate one’s lost appetite. While cooking (c) ............. authentic Indian recipe, one has to stick to traditional Indian spice mixtures or even better, single spices that are available in (d) ............. India.

(a) (A) a (B) the (C) but (D) an

(b) (A) a (B) at (C) an (D) the

(c) (A) an (B) the (C) a (D) for

(d) (A) a (B) an (C) the (D) No use

Answer:

(a)  

• (i)  a - not used with specific things
• (ii) the - this is correct
• (iii) but - not relevant
• (iv) an - not used with specific things

Since the sentence is talking about a very specific quality of Indian cuisine, ‘the’ will be used.

So, the correct answer is (ii) the.

(b)  

• (i)  a- not used with specific things
• (ii)  at - not relevant
• (iii) an - not used with specific things
• (iv) the - this is correct

Since the sentence is talking about a very specific quality of Indian cuisine and what it involves, ‘the’ will be used.

So, the correct answer is (iv)the.

(c)  

• (i)  an- this is correct
• (ii)  the - not used with generic things
• (iii) a - not used with vowels
• (iv) for - not relevant

Since the sentence is talking about a generic thing i.e. any Indian recipe , ‘an’ will be used.

So, the correct answer is (i)an.  

(d)  

• (i)  a- not relevant
• (ii)  an- not relevant
• (iii) the - not relevant
• (iv) no use - this is correct

Since the sentence is talking about India as a proper noun, no article will be used.

So, the correct answer is (iv)no use.

Thus the correct paragraph is

Indian cuisines are known worldwide particularly  for the hot spicy curries involving the excessive use of chilies and aromatic spices,  enough to stimulate one’s lost appetite. While  cooking an authentic Indian recipe, one  has to stick to traditional Indian spice mixtures or  even better, single spices that are available in ( no use ) India.