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

Explanation

Filling Blank 5 in the Passage The question asks us to select the most appropriate word to fill in blank number 5 in the given passage. Let's look at the relevant part of the passage again: "The kind people (4)______ the pet with tidbits of fish with their own chopsticks, and all the boiled rice (5)______ wanted." This sentence describes what the kind old couple fed their pet dog, Muko. It mentions tidbits of fish and boiled rice. Blank (5) comes after "all the boiled rice" and before "wanted". The phrase " (5)______ wanted" tells us who or what wanted the boiled rice. According to the passage, the subject of the sentence is "The kind people", and they fed "the pet". The pet, Muko the dog, is the one being described as receiving food and potentially wanting it. Let's consider the options provided for blank 5: 1. it 2. one 3. he 4. she Analyzing the Options for Blank 5 it: The passage refers to the dog earlier using the pronoun "it" ("loved it as though it..."). "It" is commonly used for animals when the gender is unknown or not specified, and the passage establishes this usage for Muko. This pronoun refers directly back to "the pet" (Muko) in the sentence. one: This is an indefinite pronoun used to refer to a person or thing in a general sense, or as a substitute for a previously mentioned noun. It does not specifically refer to the dog Muko in this context. he: This is a masculine pronoun used for male persons or animals. While Muko could potentially be male, the passage consistently uses "it" for the dog, indicating the author's choice of pronoun regardless of potential gender. Using "he" would be inconsistent with the established reference. she: This is a feminine pronoun used for female persons or animals. Similarly, using "she" would be inconsistent with the passage's established use of "it" for Muko. Based on the context and the way the dog Muko is referred to elsewhere in the passage ("it"), the pronoun that correctly identifies the pet as the one who wanted the rice is "it". The sentence means "The kind people fed the pet ... and all the boiled rice that the pet wanted." Substituting "it" for the pet fits perfectly and maintains consistency with the rest of the passage. Therefore, the most appropriate option for blank 5 is "it". Filling Blank 5: The Complete Sentence With "it" in blank 5, the sentence reads: "The kind people fed the pet with tidbits of fish with their own chopsticks, and all the boiled rice it wanted." This sentence makes logical sense and accurately reflects the action described in the passage. Revision Table: Understanding Pronoun Usage Pronoun Typical Use Applicability to Blank 5 Applicable; consistent with Refers to a thing, animal (gender It passage referring to the dog as unknown/unspecified), or idea. "it". Not applicable; doesn't Refers to an indefinite person or thing; One specifically refer to the dog substitute for a noun. Muko. Not applicable; passage uses He Refers to a male person or animal. "it" for the dog. Not applicable; passage uses She Refers to a female person or animal. "it" for the dog. Additional Information: Passage Completion and Context Clues Passage completion questions require careful reading to understand the context, grammar, and flow of the text. To correctly fill a blank, you should look for: Subject-Verb Agreement: Ensure the word you choose fits grammatically with the surrounding words. Pronoun Agreement: If the blank requires a pronoun, it must agree in number and gender (if specified) with the noun it replaces. In this passage, the noun "pet" refers to Muko the dog, and the passage uses "it" for Muko. Contextual Meaning: The word must make sense in the overall meaning of the sentence and the passage. The dog wanting rice fits the context of being fed. Consistency: Check if the word you choose is consistent with the author's style and previous references in the passage. In this question, understanding that "it" was used earlier to refer to the dog was a key context clue for filling blank 5 correctly.