In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank. One summer, a well in the garden dried up and there was no water for the plants. The rose slowly (1) ______ to wilt. The rose saw a sparrow (2) ______ its beak into the cactus for some water. The rose then felt (3) ______ of itself for having made fun of the cactus all this time. But, (4) ______ it was in need (5) ______ water, it went to ask the cactus if it could have some water. The kind cactus agreed, and they both got through summer as friends. Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 1.

Explanation

The correct answer is option 2) i.e. 'began.' Key Points Let's look at the meaning of the words given in the options: Word Meaning begun past participle of begin began simple past of begin begin to start to do something; to start to happen or exist beginning the continuous form of begin The context of the sentence is that the well of the garden dried up in summer and no water was left for the plants and due to lack of water the rose dried up. Here the given paragraph is in past indefinite tense that's why the verb will be also in simple past form 'began.' According to the above-mentioned points, the most appropriate word to fill the blank is "began." Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2. Complete passage:One summer, a well in the garden dried up and there was no water for the plants. The rose slowly (1) began to wilt. The rose saw a sparrow (2) dip its beak into the cactus for some water. The rose then felt (3) ashamed of itself for having made fun of the cactus all this time. But, (4) because it was in need (5) of water, it went to ask the cactus if it could have some water. The kind cactus agreed, and they both got through summer as friends.