In the same passage, choose the word that best completes the sentence "Saintliness or heroism becomes a bundle of pictures in a calendar, a statue ________ inflexibly."

Introduction / Context:
This cloze question focuses on verb form and style within a descriptive passage. The sentence "Saintliness or heroism becomes a bundle of pictures in a calendar, a statue ________ inflexibly" contrasts lively moral action with static, rigid representations. The blank requires a form that smoothly describes the statue as a continuous, unchanging presence. The question tests your understanding of participle use and the rhythm of literary English.

Given Data / Assumptions:

Sentence: "Saintliness or heroism becomes a bundle of pictures in a calendar, a statue ________ inflexibly."
Options: standing, stands, stood, always stands.
The passage uses present tense narrative to describe general tendencies.
The phrase "a statue ________ inflexibly" modifies "a statue" and should describe its fixed state.
We assume the writer aims for a descriptive, poetic flow rather than a simple factual statement.

Concept / Approach:
In literary and descriptive writing, it is common to use a present participle, such as "standing", after a noun to describe an ongoing state or posture. For example, "a statue standing in the square" paints a vivid picture. The simple present "stands" could also fit grammatically, but it changes the rhythm and structure of the sentence. Since "a bundle of pictures in a calendar, a statue standing inflexibly" lists two images in parallel, "standing" functions as a participle that further describes the statue. The choice therefore depends on both grammar and style.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the noun phrase that needs description: "a statue". Step 2: Notice that the phrase is part of a larger pattern: "a bundle of pictures in a calendar, a statue ________ inflexibly", where both items illustrate the same idea of frozen heroism. Step 3: Evaluate option A, "standing". This participle naturally describes the continuous posture of the statue: "a statue standing inflexibly". Step 4: Evaluate option B, "stands". "A statue stands inflexibly" is grammatically correct but shifts the sentence toward a full clause rather than a descriptive apposition parallel to "a bundle of pictures". Step 5: Evaluate option C, "stood". This past tense form conflicts with the general present narrative of the passage. Step 6: Evaluate option D, "always stands". This adds an adverb that slightly disturbs the compact, metaphorical structure of the sentence. Step 7: Conclude that "standing" best matches both the grammar and the literary style of the passage.

Verification / Alternative check:
Insert each option into the full sentence. "Saintliness or heroism becomes a bundle of pictures in a calendar, a statue standing inflexibly" reads smoothly, with "standing inflexibly" directly modifying "a statue". If we use "stands", the phrase becomes "a statue stands inflexibly", which feels like a full sentence joined awkwardly to the previous item. The writer seems to intend a parallel list of images rather than two separate clauses. Option C, "stood", would force the reader to shift to a past narrative, and "always stands" in option D introduces extra emphasis that is unnecessary and stylistically heavy.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B is wrong because, although grammatically possible, it breaks the parallel structure and makes the phrase less compact and poetic than the participle construction.
Option C is wrong because it changes the tense to past, which does not match the general descriptive present used elsewhere in the passage.
Option D is wrong because the addition of "always" shifts the focus and slightly overstates the point, disrupting the balanced rhythm of the metaphor.

Common Pitfalls:
In cloze tests, candidates often focus only on bare grammar and forget about style, parallelism, and tense consistency. It is important to read several lines before and after the blank to understand how the sentence functions in the passage. Recognising common descriptive patterns, such as noun + present participle ("a statue standing", "a child playing"), will help you choose forms that both work grammatically and sound natural in context.

Final Answer:
standing