Fill in the blank with the appropriate Modal.
He is afraid to speak, lest he ________ be laughed at.
(A) ought
(B) might
(C) can
(D) should
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) - (D) Only
The word "lest" introduces a clause that explains the fear or concern about a negative possibility. In standard usage, "lest" is typically followed by the modal "should" to express this potential outcome. Hence, option (D) "should" is the most appropriate choice.