SF Prep
10 General English — Common Notes 🕒 Updated 2026-10-16
Common Notes SSC CGL · CHSL · Police · Bank · Railway Chapter 10

🧩 Fill in the Blanks

Blanks test grammar (tense, preposition, article, conjunction) or vocabulary (right word, collocation). Catch the context clue and the wrong options fall away.

📌 1. Types of Blanks

TypeWhat to checkExample
GrammarTense marker, subject number, fixed prepositionShe has lived here ___ 2010. → since
VocabularyPositive/negative tone of the sentenceHis ___ remarks hurt everyone. → caustic
CollocationWhich words naturally go together___ a decision → make/take (not do)
LinkerContrast/cause/additionHe was ill, ___ he went to work. → yet

📌 2. Context Clues

  • Contrast clue: but, although, however, despite → the blank has the opposite sense.
  • Cause clue: because, since, so, therefore → the blank matches the cause/result.
  • Definition/example clue: i.e., such as, like, that is → the meaning is given in the sentence.
  • Restatement: after a comma the same idea in other words.

📌 3. High-frequency Collocations

makedotakepay
a mistake, a decision, progress, an effort, a noisehomework, a favour, business, damage, one's besta break, an exam, care, place, a photoattention, a visit, a compliment, tribute
money, friends, a speech, peaceresearch, justice, harm, the dishesa chance, charge, notice, partheed, homage, respect, the price
⚠️ Exam Traps:
  • "Do a mistake" ❌ → "make a mistake" ✅. "Take a decision" (British) and "make a decision" are both fine.
  • "Commit a crime/sin/blunder", "heavy rain", "strong tea", "fast colour" — fixed pairs.

📌 4. Practice MCQs

📝 Practice MCQs (prepared by SF Prep — not PYQs)
Q1. Fill in the blank: Despite his best efforts, he ______ to clear the exam. Practice
(A) managed
(B) succeeded
(C) agreed
(D) failed
Correct answer: (D) failed
Explanation: 'Despite' is a contrast clue — in spite of efforts → failed.
Q2. Fill in the blank: Please ______ attention to what the teacher says. Practice
(A) give
(B) pay
(C) make
(D) take
Correct answer: (B) pay
Explanation: Collocation: pay attention.
Q3. Fill in the blank: She ______ her homework before dinner. Practice
(A) made
(B) took
(C) paid
(D) did
Correct answer: (D) did
Explanation: Collocation: do homework.
Q4. Fill in the blank: The criminal was sentenced because he had ______ a serious crime. Practice
(A) done
(B) committed
(C) made
(D) performed
Correct answer: (B) committed
Explanation: Collocation: commit a crime.
Q5. Fill in the blank: She was so ______ that she gave away all her savings to charity. Practice
(A) greedy
(B) stingy
(C) generous
(D) miserly
Correct answer: (C) generous
Explanation: Giving away savings → generous. The other three mean mean/greedy.
Q6. Fill in the blank: The medicine had an immediate ______ on the patient. Practice
(A) effect
(B) affect
(C) defect
(D) infect
Correct answer: (A) effect
Explanation: A noun is needed — effect.
Q7. Fill in the blank: It was raining heavily, ______ the match continued. Practice
(A) so
(B) yet
(C) because
(D) therefore
Correct answer: (B) yet
Explanation: Contrast (rain, but match continued) → yet.
Q8. Fill in the blank: The old building was ______ as it was unsafe for living. Practice
(A) constructed
(B) decorated
(C) inaugurated
(D) demolished
Correct answer: (D) demolished
Explanation: Unsafe → pulled down → demolished.
Q9. Fill in the blank: His ______ remarks hurt the feelings of everyone present. Practice
(A) caustic
(B) soothing
(C) kind
(D) flattering
Correct answer: (A) caustic
Explanation: 'Hurt' signals a negative tone → caustic.
Q10. Fill in the blank: The scientist ______ a new theory after years of research. Practice
(A) propelled
(B) prolonged
(C) propounded
(D) prompted
Correct answer: (C) propounded
Explanation: A theory is propounded (put forward).
Q11. Fill in the blank: We should ______ from making hasty decisions. Practice
(A) restrain
(B) refrain
(C) retain
(D) remain
Correct answer: (B) refrain
Explanation: Refrain from + V-ing = avoid.
Q12. Fill in the blank: The soldiers paid ______ to the martyrs. Practice
(A) heed
(B) attention
(C) homage
(D) price
Correct answer: (C) homage
Explanation: Collocation: pay homage.
Q13. Fill in the blank: He is ______ to his brother in intelligence. Practice
(A) better
(B) more
(C) greater
(D) superior
Correct answer: (D) superior
Explanation: Superior + to.
Q14. Fill in the blank: The thief managed to ______ the police for three days. Practice
(A) elude
(B) allude
(C) delude
(D) illude
Correct answer: (A) elude
Explanation: Elude = escape from / evade.
Q15. Fill in the blank: The committee will ______ a decision next week. Practice
(A) do
(B) give
(C) take
(D) put
Correct answer: (C) take
Explanation: Collocation: take/make a decision.
Q16. Fill in the blank: The patient's condition was ______; doctors had lost all hope. Practice
(A) critical
(B) stable
(C) improving
(D) normal
Correct answer: (A) critical
Explanation: 'Lost all hope' → critical.
Q17. Fill in the blank: The rules are ______ for all members, without exception. Practice
(A) optional
(B) flexible
(C) voluntary
(D) binding
Correct answer: (D) binding
Explanation: 'Without exception' → binding.
Q18. Fill in the blank: Her ______ speech moved the audience to tears. Practice
(A) dull
(B) eloquent
(C) boring
(D) incoherent
Correct answer: (B) eloquent
Explanation: Moving the audience to tears → eloquent.
Q19. Fill in the blank: You must ______ your best in the final exam. Practice
(A) make
(B) take
(C) give
(D) do
Correct answer: (D) do
Explanation: Collocation: do one's best.
Q20. Fill in the blank: The project was ______ due to lack of funds. Practice
(A) accelerated
(B) abandoned
(C) approved
(D) applauded
Correct answer: (B) abandoned
Explanation: Lack of funds → given up → abandoned.

📝 Practice questions

General English — Practice MCQs Ch 10: Fill in the Blanks
📝 Test this chapter Practice questions

Practice MCQs prepared by SF Prep (not PYQs). Rules checked against standard grammar references.