In an English grammar sentence completion question, choose the most appropriate verb to fill in the blank: The passengers were afraid, but the captain _______ them that there was no danger.

Introduction / Context:
This English grammar question is a classic sentence completion item that tests your understanding of verb meanings, tone, and natural collocations in everyday communication. The scene is of frightened passengers and a captain who needs to calm them down, so the chosen verb must match this reassuring role.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Sentence: "The passengers were afraid but the captain _______ them that there was no danger."
• The subject of the blank is "the captain".
• The situation clearly involves fear on the part of the passengers.
• The captain is trying to remove or reduce this fear by speaking to them.
• All options are verbs in the past tense: suggested, pleaded, advised, assured.

Concept / Approach:
To solve this, you must focus on collocation (which verb naturally goes with "them that there was no danger") and on meaning. When someone reduces another person's fear, we usually say that the person "assured" them, meaning gave them confidence that there was no danger. The other verbs either do not fit the pattern "verb + someone + that clause" in this context, or they express a different attitude, such as requesting or giving advice, rather than calming fear.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the emotional context: the passengers are "afraid", so the action must be calming and reassuring. Step 2: Test "suggested": "the captain suggested them that there was no danger" is grammatically awkward in standard English and does not collocate well. Step 3: Test "pleaded": "the captain pleaded them that there was no danger" is incorrect usage because we plead with someone, and pleading usually indicates begging, not calming. Step 4: Test "advised": "the captain advised them that there was no danger" is grammatically possible, but advising is more about giving guidance, not directly removing fear. Step 5: Test "assured": "the captain assured them that there was no danger" is grammatically correct, natural, and directly expresses the idea of giving reassurance. Step 6: Conclude that "assured" is the only verb that perfectly matches both meaning and structure.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick way to verify is to think of common phrases used in spoken and written English. We often say, "He assured me that everything was fine" or "She assured them that they were safe." This matches the same pattern: assured + object + that clause. None of the other verbs commonly fit this pattern in the context of dispelling fear about danger. Therefore, "assured" passes both the grammar test and the collocation test.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• suggested: This is used for giving ideas or proposals, not for explicitly calming fear, and it does not collocate naturally as "suggested them that".
• pleaded: Usually used as "pleaded with them" or "pleaded for mercy"; it indicates begging, not reassuring frightened passengers.
• advised: Advising is giving guidance or recommendations, and while not totally wrong in meaning, it does not strongly convey reassuring frightened passengers that there is no danger.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes pick "advised" because it seems formal and correct, but they ignore the emotional nuance of the sentence. Others focus only on grammar and forget about natural usage and collocations. It is important to consider both the structure and the emotional situation when choosing the best verb in sentence completion questions for exams like SSC, banking, and other competitive tests.

Final Answer:
The correct verb that naturally fits the sentence and expresses reassurance is assured.