Choose the correct option to fill in the blank:
After a prolonged illness, Nikhil became ____on hearing the ___of the bell.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → pale, peal
The options use two pairs of words that sound alike but differ in spelling and meaning.
- Pale (adjective) means having less colour than usual in the face, as from illness or fear. After a long illness Nikhil looked weak and colourless, so the first blank takes pale.
Example: She turned pale when she heard the news. - Pail (noun) means a bucket.
Example: He carried a pail of water from the well. - Peal (noun) means the loud ringing sound of a bell, or a loud burst of sound such as thunder or laughter. The second blank names the sound of the bell, so it takes peal.
Example: The peal of the temple bells woke us up. - Peel (noun or verb) means the outer skin of a fruit or vegetable, or to remove that skin.
Example: Please peel the potatoes. - Complete sentence: After a prolonged illness, Nikhil became pale on hearing the peal of the bell.