Question:
The given sentence is missing in the paragraph below. Decide where it best fits among the options 1, 2, 3, or 4 indicated in the paragraph.
Sentence: “Everything is old-world, traditional techniques from Mexico,” Ava emphasizes.
Paragraph:
The sisters embrace the ways their great-grandfather built and repaired instruments. ____(1) ____.
When crafting a Mexican guitarrón used in mariachi music, they use tacote wood for the top of the instrument. Once the wood is cut, they carve the neck and heel from a single block using tools like hand saws, chisels and sandpaper rather than modern power tools — and believe that this traditional method improves the tone of the instrument. ____(2) ____.
Their store has a three-year waitlist for instruments that take months to create. ____(3) ____.
The family's artisanship has attracted stars like Los Lobos, who own custom guitars made by all three generations of the Delgado family. ____(4) ____.
For the sisters, involvement in the family business started at an early age. They each built their first instruments at age 9.
The given sentence is missing in the paragraph below. Decide where it best fits among the options 1, 2, 3, or 4 indicated in the paragraph.
Sentence: “Everything is old-world, traditional techniques from Mexico,” Ava emphasizes.
Paragraph:
The sisters embrace the ways their great-grandfather built and repaired instruments. ____(1) ____. When crafting a Mexican guitarrón used in mariachi music, they use tacote wood for the top of the instrument. Once the wood is cut, they carve the neck and heel from a single block using tools like hand saws, chisels and sandpaper rather than modern power tools — and believe that this traditional method improves the tone of the instrument. ____(2) ____.
Their store has a three-year waitlist for instruments that take months to create. ____(3) ____.
The family's artisanship has attracted stars like Los Lobos, who own custom guitars made by all three generations of the Delgado family. ____(4) ____.
For the sisters, involvement in the family business started at an early age. They each built their first instruments at age 9.
Sentence: “Everything is old-world, traditional techniques from Mexico,” Ava emphasizes.
Paragraph:
The sisters embrace the ways their great-grandfather built and repaired instruments. ____(1) ____. When crafting a Mexican guitarrón used in mariachi music, they use tacote wood for the top of the instrument. Once the wood is cut, they carve the neck and heel from a single block using tools like hand saws, chisels and sandpaper rather than modern power tools — and believe that this traditional method improves the tone of the instrument. ____(2) ____.
Their store has a three-year waitlist for instruments that take months to create. ____(3) ____.
The family's artisanship has attracted stars like Los Lobos, who own custom guitars made by all three generations of the Delgado family. ____(4) ____.
For the sisters, involvement in the family business started at an early age. They each built their first instruments at age 9.
Show Hint
When placing a missing sentence, check whether it provides:
a general statement → fits early,
an example or detail → fits after specifics,
a conclusion → fits near the end.
Match its function to the surrounding lines for smooth coherence.
a general statement → fits early,
an example or detail → fits after specifics,
a conclusion → fits near the end.
Match its function to the surrounding lines for smooth coherence.
Updated On: Jul 1, 2026
- Option 1
- Option 4
- Option 2
- Option 3
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The Correct Option is A
Approach Solution - 1
Approach: For a sentence-insertion question, read the missing sentence for its exact content, then look for the one gap where the sentence before it and the sentence after it both connect. The quote here is a general summary of method, so it belongs next to a general statement of method, not next to a specific technical detail.
Step 1: The missing line is Ava's quote: 'Everything is old-world, traditional techniques from Mexico.' It is a sweeping, summarising claim about how the sisters work overall.
Step 2: Gap 1 comes right after 'The sisters embrace the ways their great-grandfather built and repaired instruments.' That sentence is also general and about inherited tradition. Ava's quote restates and personalises it \(-\) a perfect echo. The paragraph then moves into the specific guitarron example, which works as an illustration of the just-stated principle.
Step 3: Check the other gaps. Gap 2 sits inside the technical detail about tacote wood and hand tools \(-\) a broad 'everything is traditional' line would interrupt it. Gap 3 is about the three-year waitlist (business, not technique). Gap 4 is about celebrity clients. None of these is about traditional method, so the quote does not belong there.
Answer: Option 1
Step 1: The missing line is Ava's quote: 'Everything is old-world, traditional techniques from Mexico.' It is a sweeping, summarising claim about how the sisters work overall.
Step 2: Gap 1 comes right after 'The sisters embrace the ways their great-grandfather built and repaired instruments.' That sentence is also general and about inherited tradition. Ava's quote restates and personalises it \(-\) a perfect echo. The paragraph then moves into the specific guitarron example, which works as an illustration of the just-stated principle.
Step 3: Check the other gaps. Gap 2 sits inside the technical detail about tacote wood and hand tools \(-\) a broad 'everything is traditional' line would interrupt it. Gap 3 is about the three-year waitlist (business, not technique). Gap 4 is about celebrity clients. None of these is about traditional method, so the quote does not belong there.
Answer: Option 1
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Approach Solution -2
Step 1: Understand what the missing sentence expresses.
The sentence is a direct quote summarizing the sisters' philosophy: their craftsmanship relies entirely on old-world, traditional Mexican techniques.
This is a general description of their approach, not a detail about tools, customers, or business demand.
Step 2: Look for the most logical placement.
The first sentence of the paragraph says:
{“The sisters embrace the ways their great-grandfather built and repaired instruments.”} The missing sentence perfectly elaborates on this idea by explaining what ways — old-world, traditional Mexican techniques.
Thus, placing the sentence at (1) creates a smooth connection between the statement and Ava’s emphasis.
Step 3: Check why the other positions do not fit.
Position (2) comes after a detailed description of carving and tools; inserting a broad philosophy sentence here disrupts the flow from method → belief about tone.
Position (3) is about long waitlists; a statement about traditional techniques does not logically link demand to celebrity clients.
Position (4) precedes a shift to the sisters’ early involvement; again, the quote is unrelated.
Therefore, the best placement is Option 1.
The sentence is a direct quote summarizing the sisters' philosophy: their craftsmanship relies entirely on old-world, traditional Mexican techniques.
This is a general description of their approach, not a detail about tools, customers, or business demand.
Step 2: Look for the most logical placement.
The first sentence of the paragraph says:
{“The sisters embrace the ways their great-grandfather built and repaired instruments.”} The missing sentence perfectly elaborates on this idea by explaining what ways — old-world, traditional Mexican techniques.
Thus, placing the sentence at (1) creates a smooth connection between the statement and Ava’s emphasis.
Step 3: Check why the other positions do not fit.
Position (2) comes after a detailed description of carving and tools; inserting a broad philosophy sentence here disrupts the flow from method → belief about tone.
Position (3) is about long waitlists; a statement about traditional techniques does not logically link demand to celebrity clients.
Position (4) precedes a shift to the sisters’ early involvement; again, the quote is unrelated.
Therefore, the best placement is Option 1.
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