Tackling Fill in the Blanks in English Section of RBI Grade B Exam

The English section of the RBI Grade B Phase 1 exam is one such section that can very well maximize your overall score in Phase 1. But only if you prepare for it using proven tips and tricks, and strategies. One important topic in this section is Fill in the Blanks. This topic tests how well a candidate understands grammar, how strong their vocabulary is, and how accurately they can grasp the context of a sentence. Around 4 to 5 questions from this topic can be asked in the English Language section of Phase 1. A candidate can solve these questions quickly only when they have a solid grasp of grammar basics and a good vocabulary. In this blog, you will find all the right tips to follow. Read on to know how your English usage and comprehension confidence can soar to new heights with regular practice.

Tips to Master Fill in the Blanks Quickly

Many students struggle with this topic. Mostly those who have weak vocabulary or those who fail to understand the tone of the sentence. If you find difficulty in it too, or want to improve your answer-giving skills in this topic, you should start following the tips below to learn the best ways to answer these questions with clarity, confidence, and speed.

1. Understand the Sentence Context

It is important to train your brain to try to scan the text quickly and understand the text from the beginning till the end before giving a go to the answer to the question. So, before you take action, read the full sentence carefully to know its tone and meaning.

This is the right way to do it:

• Read the sentence fully first
• Look for clues around the blank
• Understand if the tone is positive or negative
• Focus on sentence flow
• Try to guess the word before checking options

2. Improve Your Vocabulary Daily

Good vocabulary is the source of solving these questions correctly. So, there is no other way to answer such questions than to keep collecting new words into your vocabulary house.

Here’s what you need to do:

• Learn 5 to 10 new words daily
• Use the new words you memorized in your daily dealings, and keep revising them
• Use a vocabulary book or app
• Focus on synonyms and antonyms
• Make short notes or flashcards
• Revise words weekly

3. Practice with Previous Year Questions

Previous years’ papers will help you understand the exam pattern and the style of questions that are asked. They are the doors to all the questions that have already stunned the candidates in one form or the other. So, you can avoid getting stunned when you know what is coming your way.

Let’s break down the process:

• Solve actual RBI Grade B questions
• Note the type of words often asked
• Practice with a timer
• Review explanations carefully
• Invest sufficient time in solving questions (both single and double blanks)

4. Eliminate Wrong Options Smartly

The elimination method helps whenever you’re in doubt while solving a question. So, when in doubt, use elimination to increase your chances of picking up the right option.

• Remove clearly wrong words
• Focus on grammatical fit
• Match tense and tone
• Choose the most suitable word
• Avoid overthinking

5. Take Topic-wise Quizzes

Quick quizzes check your knowledge and show how you’re improving. So, it’s essential to keep practicing topic-wise quizzes to master this topic.

Try following these steps:

• Take daily or weekly quizzes
• Use mobile apps or websites
• Check your accuracy and speed
• Revise weak areas
• Time yourself when solving questions

Sample Questions

Directions: In the question below, two sentences are given, each with a part missing. Choose the option that provides the word that can grammatically and contextually fit in both sentences.

Question 1

1. Developing and maintaining an integrated database is necessary for combating the laundering of the ___________ of crime and the financing of terrorism.
2. This will be the final step in determining whether a mistake has been made before the case ___________ to the first level of judicial review.
   a) progresses
   b) spoils
   c) proceeds
   d) hauls
   e) advances

Ans: (c)

Solution: 1 talks about how the database is required for stopping the laundering of the money obtained from crime. 2 talks about how this will be the last step before the case moves to the first level of judicial review. PROCEEDS will fit in both sentences and convey the meaning. Thus, (c) is the right answer.
(a) and (e) will fit only in 2, while (b) and (d) will only fit in 1.

Question 2

1. Once ___________ from its resting place, the wooden tomb was treated immediately with chemicals to prevent it from disintegrating.
2. His first cousin once ___________ was Albert Augustus, close friend of George V when he was Prince of Wales.
   a) unearthed
   b) removed
   c) exacted
   d) dislodged
   e) extracted

Ans: (b)

Solution: 1 talks about how the wooden tomb was treated with chemicals once it was transferred from its resting place. 2 talks about how his first cousin, separated by one generation, was Albert Victor. REMOVED will fit in both sentences and convey the meaning. Thus, (b) is the right answer.
(a), (d) and (e) will fit only in 1, while (c) will fit in neither of the sentences.

Question 3

1. Differential pricing is imposed by regulated pricing regimes and is essential to ___________ high R&D investments, and to allow producers to serve low price markets.
2. Just as Philippa was beginning to ___________, destiny brought her a number of painful personal experiences.
   a) recuperate
   b) convalesce
   c) heal
   d) recoup
   e) retrieve

Ans: (a)

Solution: 1 talks about how differential pricing is required to regain high investments. 2 talks about how Philippa was beginning to become stronger and better again after an illness or injury. RECUPERATE will fit in both sentences and convey the meaning. Thus, (a) is the right answer.
(b) and (c) will fit only in 2, while (d) and (e) will only fit in 1.

Directions: In the question below, a sentence is given with two words missing. You are given five options containing a pair of words that can fill the blanks making the sentence contextually correct. Identify the correct choice.

Question 1

Topic: Sentence Completion

Subtopic: 2 blanks

Level – 2

This paradigm shift in human responses is not just a ___________ of multidimensional mental disorders, it will also ____________ social structures by creating a new division of digital haves and have-nots.
a) indication, ruminate
b) precursor, upend
c) progenitor, elevation
d) origin, upraised
e) frontrunner, procure

Ans: (b)

Solution: B is the correct answer. PRECURSOR – indicator. UPEND – turn upside-down.
First blank – We need a noun to agree with the indefinite article A.
Second blank – We need a verb in its base form to modify the noun phrase SOCIAL STRUCTURES. The sentence seeks to convey that the paradigm shift in human responses is not merely a PRECURSOR (indicator) of multidimensional mental disorders, it will also UPEND (turn upside-down) social structures.
A is incorrect because INDICATION does not agree with the indefinite article A.
C is incorrect because ELEVATION is a noun whereas we need a verb in the second blank.
D is incorrect because for the second blank we need a verb in its base form whereas UPRAISED is the second-verb form.
E is incorrect because PROCURE (obtain) does not lend meaning to the sentence.

Question 2

While the ____________ approach to economic growth has created vast amounts of waste to profit relatively few people, a circular model could treat waste as a design flaw and generate more distributed and ____________ systems.
a) precarious, inclusion
b) prescient, included
c) preposterous, exclusive
d) predominant, inclusive
e) purposeful, exclusion

Ans: (d)

Solution: D is the correct answer. PREDOMINANT – main. INCLUSIVE – comprehensive.
First blank – We need an adjective to modify the noun APPROACH.
Second blank – We need an adjective to modify the noun SYSTEMS. The sentence seeks to convey that while the PREDOMINANT (main) approach has created vast amounts of waste, a circular model could treat waste as a design flaw and generate more distributed and INCLUSIVE (comprehensive) systems.
A is incorrect because for the second blank we need an adjective whereas INCLUSION is a noun.
B is incorrect because for the second blank we need an adjective whereas INCLUDED is a verb.
C is incorrect because PREPOSTEROUS (outrageous) is contextually incorrect here.
E is incorrect because EXCLUSION is a noun whereas for the second blank we need an adjective.

Takeaway

Fill in the Blanks can become one of the easiest scoring areas in the English section if you follow the steps given above in the form of tips. Keep practicing, stay focused, and keep improving to boost your score in RBI Grade B preparation.

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