Each of the following sentences in this section has a blank space and is followed by four choices. Select the most appropriate choice to fill in the blank and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.
Passage:
The Second Anglo-Maratha War had shattered the Maratha chiefs, but not their spirit. The freedom rankled in their hearts. They made a last_______ 101. (a) power (b) dignity(c) time (d) patience of the 102. (a) disappearance of their (b) empowerment (c) loss (d) disappointment _______ 103. (a) horrible (b) desperate (c) poor (d) strong attempt to regain their independence and old _______ 104. (a) prestige (b) army (c) rebellion (d) infantry in 1817. The lead in organizing a united front of the Maratha chiefs was taken by the Peshwa who was smarting under th e __________ 105. (a) pleasant (b) satisfying (c) rigid (d) orthodox control exercised by the British Resident.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank 103.
- Aa
- Bb
- Cc
- Dd
Explanation
They 'made a last ___ attempt to regain their independence': the fixed collocation is 'a last desperate attempt,' a final do-or-die effort. 'Horrible,' 'poor,' and 'strong' do not combine with 'a last attempt' in this historical sense. Hence (b) is correct.