Continuing the Trikonasana passage, choose the correct word to complete the sentence: "Practise this asana every day and you will _________ strength in the ankles, thighs, knees, hips, calves and hamstrings."

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: gain

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This cloze passage continues describing the health benefits of the Trikonasana. The specific sentence talks about what will happen if you practise the pose every day. It uses the future construction "you will" followed by a base form of a verb. Recognising this pattern is essential in choosing the correct option to fill the blank.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The sentence is "Practise this asana every day and you will _________ strength in the ankles, thighs, knees, hips, calves and hamstrings."
  • The auxiliary "will" indicates the simple future tense.
  • The missing verb describes the result of regular practice.
  • The passage focuses on positive development of strength and stamina.


Concept / Approach:
In English, the construction with "will" to express future actions or results is followed by the base form of the verb, also called the bare infinitive. For example, "will gain", "will build", and "will increase". The natural verb to describe an increase in strength is "gain". Therefore the correct combination is "will gain". Any other form such as "gaining", "gained", or "to gain" would not fit the grammar of this future tense structure.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify "will" as the future auxiliary verb.Step 2: Recall that "will" is followed by the base form of the main verb, not by ing, ed, or "to" forms.Step 3: Among the options, note that "gain" is the base form, while "gaining", "gained", and "to gain" are not suitable in this context.Step 4: Insert "gain" into the sentence: "you will gain strength in the ankles, thighs, knees, hips, calves and hamstrings."Step 5: Confirm that the meaning and the grammar are both correct and natural.


Verification / Alternative check:
Try each option in the sentence. "Will gaining" is incorrect because "will" cannot directly take an ing form. "Will gained" is also wrong because after "will" we do not use the past tense. "Will to gain" is not a standard pattern either. Only "will gain" matches normal future tense formation and describes a reasonable physical benefit of yoga practice.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Option A "gaining" would require an auxiliary like "be", as in "will be gaining", which is not provided here.
  • Option C "gained" is a past tense or past participle form and does not follow the rule of using base form after "will".
  • Option D "to gain" would be correct after certain verbs like "expect to gain", but not immediately after "will".


Common Pitfalls:
In cloze tests, examinees sometimes focus only on meaning and ignore tense structure, especially if they see a familiar collocation like "gaining strength". However, in this structure the presence of "will" forces the bare infinitive. Always check which auxiliary verbs are present before the blank, because they usually determine the correct form of the verb that should follow.


Final Answer:
The correct word to fill the blank is "gain", giving the phrase "you will gain strength in the ankles, thighs, knees, hips, calves and hamstrings".

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