Question

Comprehension: In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank. The worst days of any summer are the rainy ones. We spend all year looking forward to (1)_____ weather and long, hot days. All of winter, with its dreary grey days and (2)_____ cold, we dream of those (3)_____ days at the beach, laying on the sand and (4)_____ in the (5)_____ and burning sun. And then, summer comes, and it rains. Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 2.

• A. bitter
• B. warm
• C. loving
• D. sweet

Answer 1

Answer:

A. bitter

Context: The sentence describes the negative aspects of winter: "All of winter, with its dreary grey days and (2) ______ cold..." Collocation: In English, certain adjectives are habitually paired with "cold" to describe its intensity. "Bitter cold" is a common collocation used to describe extreme, piercing, or unpleasantly severe cold weather. Why 'A' is correct: "Bitter" perfectly matches the negative tone of "dreary grey days" and effectively describes the harshness of winter that makes people dream of summer.