In the following question, choose the correct form of the verb to complete the sentence: No one knows how he escaped __________ to pieces.

Introduction / Context:
This grammar question checks your knowledge of verb forms and passive constructions, particularly the “being + past participle” pattern that is used to describe an action that could have happened to someone. The sentence refers to a dangerous situation from which a person escaped. To express correctly what he avoided, we must choose a form that fits both grammatically and semantically in standard English usage.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- Sentence: “No one knows how he escaped __________ to pieces.” - The phrase “to pieces” suggests violent physical destruction. - We assume the intended meaning is “escaped from being dashed to pieces.” - We must choose the most natural and grammatically accurate verb phrase.

Concept / Approach:
In English, when we want to say that someone avoided a harmful passive action, we commonly use “escaped being + past participle”. For example, “escaped being crushed,” “escaped being killed,” or “escaped being hurt.” The word “dashed” here means “thrown or smashed violently,” especially against rocks or the ground. So the full natural expression is “escaped being dashed to pieces,” where “being dashed” is a passive gerund phrase describing the potential outcome he avoided.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Identify the underlying full expression: “escaped (from) being dashed to pieces.” 2. Recognise that “escaped” is already in simple past, so the blank should contain a non-finite form (verb phrase) describing the threatened action. 3. Check each option: - “being dash” uses the base form “dash” after “being”, which is ungrammatical; after “being” we need a past participle. - “being dashed” is grammatically correct: “being” + past participle “dashed.” - “dashed” alone does not show the continuous passive sense after “escaped” and makes the sentence feel incomplete. - “no improvement” would keep the incorrect bracketed version and is therefore wrong. 4. Conclude that “being dashed” best completes the conventional passive expression.

Verification / Alternative check:
Compare with similar sentences: “No one knows how she escaped being crushed under the falling rocks” or “No one knows how they escaped being killed in the accident.” These standard patterns confirm that the structure “escaped being + past participle” is correct. Replacing “crushed” or “killed” with “dashed” in this pattern shows that “being dashed to pieces” is natural English.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- “being dash”: Wrong form; after “being” we need the past participle “dashed”, not the base verb. - “dashed”: Without “being”, the connection to “escaped” sounds incomplete and unnatural, as if something is missing in the structure. - “no improvement”: The original bracketed phrase is faulty, so it cannot be left as it is.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often confuse when to use “being + past participle” and when a simple past participle is enough. In structures like “escape being harmed,” the “being” is important because it links the idea of potential passive action to the verb “escape.” Another common error is to use the base verb form after “being”, which is grammatically incorrect. To avoid these mistakes, remember the rule: after “being” in a passive construction, always use the past participle of the main verb.

Final Answer:
The correct completion is being dashed, so the sentence becomes: “No one knows how he escaped being dashed to pieces.”