Question

Everyone was ......... by surprise when she announced her plan to marry that boy.

• A. moved
• B. shaken
• C. taken
• D. prevailed

Hint:

Everyone was ......... by surprise when she announced her plan to marry that boy.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

The question asks you to fill in the blank in the sentence: "Everyone was ......... by surprise when she announced her plan to marry that boy." Understanding the context of this sentence is key to choosing the correct word. The primary phrase here is "by surprise," which typically pairs with the verb "taken" in English. The complete phrase "taken by surprise" is commonly used to describe a situation where someone is caught off guard or astonished unexpectedly.

Let's examine each option:

• moved: This word is often used to describe a strong emotional response, such as being touched or affected emotionally. It doesn't naturally fit with "by surprise" as a phrase.
• shaken: While "shaken by surprise" makes some sense in terms of being disturbed or unsettled, it's not the conventional or commonly used phrase in English.
• taken: "Taken by surprise" is the idiomatic phrase that means someone was surprised or not expecting something. It fits perfectly here.
• prevailed: This means to triumph or win, and it doesn't logically fit with "by surprise." It's also not grammatically or idiomatically correct here.

Based on this analysis, the phrase "taken by surprise" is the most appropriate choice in this context, aligning with standard English usage.

Conclusion: The correct answer is: taken.