In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank. Recently, the (1)________ of heart-attacks in young Indians (2)________ increased tremendously. Doctors are surprised to note that young men and women with seemingly healthy lifestyle are suffering deadly heart attacks. (3)________ diet and exercise play a (4)________ role in a person’s overall wellbeing, mental health is also a valuable factor. The (5)________ urban lifestyle is causing anxiety and depression in young Indians which may be a major factor behind the increased numbers.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 3.
- (a)However
- (b)Since
- (c)Although
- (d)In spite of
Answer
Why
Correct — C. Two complete clauses meet at the comma: 'diet and exercise play a ... role' and 'mental health is also a valuable factor'. Each has its own subject and finite verb.
Joining two finite clauses that way needs a subordinating conjunction, and the relation is concessive — the first point is granted, then a second is added against it.
Although is the subordinator of concession, so it opens the clause and the comma closes it → option (c).
Why the others are wrong
- (a)However — However is a conjunctive adverb, not a conjunction. It can open a new sentence or follow a semicolon, but it cannot subordinate 'diet and exercise play...' to the clause after the comma.
- (b)Since — Since does subordinate, but it states a cause. The passage is not saying that mental health matters because diet and exercise matter — 'also' marks an addition, not a consequence.
- (d)In spite of — In spite of is a preposition and takes a noun or an -ing form, as in 'in spite of diet and exercise'. It cannot be followed by the finite clause 'diet and exercise play'.
Concept
Connectors are sorted by word class before meaning is considered at all.
A subordinating conjunction (although, though, while, because, since) takes a finite clause.
A conjunctive adverb (however, therefore, moreover) modifies a sentence and needs a full stop or a semicolon in front of it.
A preposition (in spite of, despite, during) takes a noun phrase or a gerund.
Only once the class is fixed does meaning pick between the survivors — concession here, because the sentence grants the first point and then adds a second.
Despite and in spite of can front a clause, but only with 'the fact that' bolted on: 'in spite of the fact that diet and exercise play...'.
The paper does not print those three words, so the preposition cannot be made to fit.
Key facts
- Although, though and while introduce a finite clause of concession.
- However is an adverb and cannot join two clauses with only a comma between them.
- In spite of and despite take a noun phrase or an -ing form, never a finite clause.
- A concessive clause placed first is closed by a comma before the main clause.
Study next
Common traps
- Picking 'However' because the sentence really does carry a contrast
- Reading 'also' as addition and then reaching for a cause connector such as 'Since'
- Forcing 'In spite of' in front of a clause that already has a finite verb
Connector blanks are decided first by what may legally follow the connector, and only then by the logic of the sentence.
Connector blanks of the same kind are keyed at 09 Sep 2024, 09:00, English Q.21 (However), Q.23 (Moreover) and Q.25 (Therefore) — conjunctive adverbs there, because each of those blanks opens a fresh sentence rather than a clause inside one.
Related PYQs
No directly related past PYQ was found.