Fill in the blank with the most appropriate option:
Although the research team travelled _________ into the submerged ruins of Alexandria than any previous expedition, they still failed to solve the enduring mystery of Cleopatra's tomb.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → deeper
Comparative degree with "than":
- When two things are compared, the word takes its comparative form, usually -er or more, and is followed by than.
- The superlative (-est, most) compares one thing with all the others of a group and takes "the", not "than".
- This sentence compares how far this team went with how far "any previous expedition" went, and "than" follows the blank, so the comparative deeper is needed.
- Complete sentence: Although the research team travelled deeper into the submerged ruins of Alexandria than any previous expedition, they still failed to solve the enduring mystery of Cleopatra's tomb.
Example: This well is deeper than the one in our village.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: deepest — Incorrect. Deepest is the superlative form, used when one thing is compared with all others in a group; it does not go with "than".
Example: The Pacific is the deepest ocean in the world.
Option 2: deep — Incorrect. Deep is the positive form and makes no comparison, so it cannot be followed by "than any previous expedition".
Example: The lake is very deep near the dam.
Option 3: furthermost — Incorrect. Furthermost means most distant. It is a superlative-type word of distance and does not fit before "than".
Example: They camped at the furthermost end of the valley.
Contrast: the comparative (deeper) compares two and takes "than"; the superlative (deepest) compares one with the whole group and takes "the".