Question

In the given text, the blanks are numbered (i)--(iv). Select the best match for all the blanks. 

From the ancient Athenian arena to the modern Olympic stadiums, athletics (i) _____the potential for a spectacle. The crowd (ii) ______ with bated breath as the Olympian artist twists his body, stretching the javelin behind him. Twelve strides in, he begins to cross-step. Six cross-steps (iii) _________ in an abrupt stop on his left foot. As his body (iv) ________ like a door turning on a hinge, the javelin is launched skyward at a precise angle. 
 

• A. (i) hold (ii) waits (iii) culminates (iv) pivot
• B. (i) holds (ii) wait (iii) culminates (iv) pivot
• C. (i) hold (ii) wait (iii) culminate (iv) pivots
• D. (i) holds (ii) waits (iii) culminate (iv) pivots

Hint:

Always check subject-verb agreement carefully: singular subjects take singular verbs, plural subjects take plural verbs. Collective nouns like "crowd" or "athletics" usually act as singular in formal English.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: First blank (i). The subject is "athletics," which in this context is treated as singular. Therefore, we say: \[ \text{Athletics \; holds \; the potential for a spectacle.} \] So, (i) = holds. 

Step 2: Second blank (ii). The subject is "The crowd." In formal grammar, "crowd" is generally singular. Hence: \[ \text{The crowd \; waits \; with bated breath.} \] So, (ii) = waits. 

Step 3: Third blank (iii). The subject is "Six cross-steps," which is plural. The verb must match the plural subject: \[ \text{Six cross-steps \; culminate \; in an abrupt stop.} \] So, (iii) = culminate. 

Step 4: Fourth blank (iv). The subject is "his body," which is singular. Therefore: \[ \text{As his body \; pivots \; like a door turning on a hinge.} \] So, (iv) = pivots. Thus, the correct sequence is:

 \[ \boxed{\text{(i) holds, (ii) waits, (iii) culminate, (iv) pivots}} \]