In the following passage type question, some words are missing. Read the sentence carefully and choose the correct option for the first blank. We are ____ in a time of great and _____ changes. The most obvious _____ of the modern world is the _____ development of science and technology. This has given man a deeper _____ of nature. We are ____ in a time of great...

Introduction / Context:
This is a vocabulary based cloze or passage completion question. The sentence describes the present age and the rapid changes in the modern world. The first blank must be filled with a verb or participle that correctly collocates with "We are" and "in a time of great and ..." to produce a natural English expression. Because such passages often appear in exams like SSC and banking tests, understanding collocation and idiomatic usage is very important.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Sentence fragment: "We are ____ in a time of great and _____ changes."
• The speaker is talking about the current era that we experience.
• The second blank will later be filled with an adjective describing the kind of changes.
• The verb phrase "We are ____ in a time" must be grammatically and idiomatically correct.
• Options: existing, living, surviving, alive.

Concept / Approach:
The correct English idiom is "We are living in a time of great changes." The phrase "living in a time" is commonly used to describe the period during which people experience events or conditions, especially in formal or literary writing about history and society. "Existing in a time" sounds unnatural, "surviving in a time" gives an unnecessarily negative tone of barely staying alive, and "alive in a time" does not fit smoothly into the sentence structure because "alive" is an adjective, not a present participle forming part of the progressive verb phrase "are living".

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
If we read the full sentence with "living", it becomes "We are living in a time of great and ... changes." This sounds natural and is often seen in essays about modern society and scientific progress. It clearly expresses that we experience these times as they unfold, which is the intended meaning of the passage. None of the other options produces such a smooth and idiomatic sentence.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, "existing", is not completely wrong grammatically, but it is rarely used in this type of sentence. It also sounds very mechanical. Option C, "surviving", adds an unintended idea of hardship or danger, which does not match the neutral, descriptive tone of the passage. Option D, "alive", is an adjective and does not form a proper progressive verb phrase with "are" in this context, leading to a clumsy sentence. Thus, only "living" gives the desired idiomatic expression.

Common Pitfalls:
In cloze tests, candidates may be tempted by options that are grammatically possible but stylistically poor. It is essential not only to check grammar but also to consider how English is actually used in essays and articles. Reading a lot of quality English material helps build a sense of collocation, which is crucial for solving such questions correctly.

Final Answer:
The most appropriate word for the first blank is living, giving the phrase "We are living in a time of great and ... changes."