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In the passage about energy in India, choose the correct adjective to complete the fifth blank: coal is the _____ source of commercial energy in India.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: largest

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:

This final cloze test question in the passage on energy in India asks you to choose an adjective describing the role of coal as a commercial energy source. The sentence states that coal is the blank source of commercial energy in India. You must decide which adjective best fits factual information and the logical flow of the passage.


Given Data / Assumptions:

- Sentence fragment: coal is the _____ source of commercial energy in India. - Options: smallest, hardest, largest, heaviest. - The passage is about importance and scale of energy sources, not about physical properties alone.


Concept / Approach:

In standard geography and economics texts, coal is often described as the largest source of commercial energy in many developing countries, including India. Here, largest refers to largest share or major contribution, not physical size. The adjectives smallest, hardest, and heaviest do not fit the context of importance or share in energy supply. Therefore, largest is the appropriate adjective to complete the sentence meaningfully.


Step-by-Step Solution:

1. Understand the context: the passage is comparing commercial and non commercial energy sources and discussing their roles in meeting energy requirements. 2. The blank describes coal as a particular type of commercial energy source, most likely in terms of how much it contributes. 3. Insert largest: coal is the largest source of commercial energy in India. This means coal provides the biggest share of commercial energy, which is factually accurate in traditional energy profiles. 4. Insert smallest: This would contradict known facts and the emphasis on coal as a key energy source. 5. Insert hardest or heaviest: These describe physical characteristics of coal, such as being hard or heavy, but the sentence is speaking about its role as a source, not its physical nature. 6. Therefore, largest is the only choice that provides a logical and contextually correct description.


Verification / Alternative check:

Think about similar textbook sentences: In India, coal is the largest source of commercial energy. Petroleum is the second major source. These are common statements in school geography and economics books. The word largest here clearly means greatest contributor. If you replace largest with hardest or heaviest, the sentence loses its statistical meaning and no longer suits a passage about energy supply. This confirms that largest is the intended answer.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Smallest: Suggests that coal has the least share, which is factually untrue in the context of traditional Indian energy use. Hardest: Even if coal is physically hard, the sentence is discussing its role as a source of energy, not its physical hardness. Heaviest: Similarly, heaviness is not the focus; we are not comparing physical weight but contribution to energy production.


Common Pitfalls:

Some candidates may overthink and try to connect heaviest or hardest with coal as a solid fuel. However, cloze tests usually focus on standard factual descriptions and common phrases. When a passage is about supply, demand, and importance, largest almost always refers to size of contribution or share in a total. Keeping this in mind will help you avoid being misled by less relevant physical adjectives.


Final Answer:

The correct adjective for the fifth blank is largest.

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