Direction: In the following passage some words have been deleted. Fill in

Explanation

Understanding the Passage and Blank 4 The passage describes the life of an old couple and their beloved pet dog, Muko. The narrative is set in the past, describing their actions and Muko's behavior. The sentence containing blank 4 is: "The kind people (4)_______ the pet with tidbits of fish with their own chopsticks, and all the boiled rice (5)______ wanted." We need to select the most appropriate word to fill in blank number 4. The sentence describes an action the kind people performed for their pet. Since the story is told in the past tense ("lived", "made", "would sit"), the action of feeding the dog must also be described using a form of the verb "feed" that fits the past context. Analyzing the Options for Blank 4 Let's look at the given options for filling blank 4: 1. feeds 2. feed 3. feeding 4. fed Option 1: feeds The word "feeds" is the third-person singular present tense form of the verb "feed". This form is used for a habitual action in the present (e.g., "He feeds his dog every morning") or a general truth. However, the passage describes events that happened in the past. Therefore, "feeds" does not fit the past tense narrative of the passage. Option 2: feed The word "feed" is the base form of the verb and also the present tense form used with plural subjects or the pronouns I, you, we, and they (e.g., "They feed their dog"). It is also used as an infinitive ("to feed"). Like "feeds", this form is primarily used for present or future actions, or as part of an infinitive or imperative. It does not fit the simple past tense needed for the narrative. Option 3: feeding The word "feeding" is the present participle or gerund form of the verb "feed". It is often used as part of a continuous tense (e.g., "They were feeding the dog") or as a gerund acting as a noun (e.g., "Feeding the dog is his responsibility"). Standing alone as the main verb after a subject like "The kind people", it is grammatically incorrect in this context. We need a finite past tense verb. Option 4: fed The word "fed" is the simple past tense form of the verb "feed". It is used to describe an action that was completed in the past. The sentence "The kind people fed the pet..." uses the past tense verb "fed" to describe the action of giving food to the dog, which happened in the past, consistent with the overall tense of the passage. Conclusion for Blank 4 Based on the past tense context of the passage, the verb describing the action of the kind people giving food to their pet should be in the simple past tense. The word "fed" is the simple past tense of "feed". Therefore, "fed" is the most appropriate option for blank 4. The complete sentence with blank 4 filled is: "The kind people fed the pet with tidbits of fish with their own chopsticks, and all the boiled rice... wanted." Option Word Grammatical Role/Tense Fit in Passage Present Tense (3rd person 1 feeds No (Passage is past tense) singular) 2 feed Base Form/Present Tense No (Passage is past tense) No (Requires helping verb for 3 feeding Present Participle/Gerund main verb) Yes (Matches the past tense 4 fed Simple Past Tense narrative) Revision Table: Understanding Verb Forms It's important to know the different forms of common verbs to fill in blanks correctly in passages. Base Form (Infinitive) Simple Past Tense Past Participle Present Participle feed fed fed feeding eat ate eaten eating give gave given giving Additional Information: Simple Past Tense Usage The simple past tense is used to talk about actions that happened at a specific time in the past and are now finished. It is often used when recounting events, as in the given passage. It is formed by adding -ed to the base form of regular verbs (e.g., walked, played, looked). For irregular verbs, the past tense form is different and needs to be memorized (e.g., go > went, eat > ate, feed > fed). Signal words like yesterday, last week, ago, in 2010, or context indicating past events help identify when to use the simple past tense. In the passage, words like "lived" indicate a past setting, requiring past tense verbs like "fed".