Question

Identify the correct use of homophones to complete the sentences :
1) They _ _ _ _ _ _ _ they couldn’t win the race.
2) It was a brand _ _ _ _ _ _ car.
3) The lions chased the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ into a corner before attacking it.

a) 1. New, 2. Knew, 3. Gnu
b) 1. Knew, 2. New, 3. Gnu
c) 1. Gnu, 2. Knew, 3. New
d) 1. Knew, 2. Gnu, 3. New

Answer 1

Hint: Homophones are each of two or more words having the same pronunciation but different meanings, origins, or spelling.

Complete answer:
A homophone is a word that is pronounced the same as another word but differs in meaning and spelling. The two words may be spelled the same, as in rose(flower) and rose(past tense of rise). For example Rain, reign, and rein.
Here, the three homophones are – New, which means something which is produced, introduced, or discovered, or now; for the first time. Knew, which means something that is known. Gnu, which is a large dark antelope with a long head, a beard and mane, and a sloping back. It is an animal.
Now, let us examine all the given options and find out the correct answer :
Option ‘a' is 1. New 2. Knew 3. Gnu – Here, the first two options don't fit in the given sentences as their meanings differ.
Option ‘b' is 1. Knew 2. New 3. Gnu – Here, all the given homophones are fitting in the given blanks.
Option ‘c’ is 1. Gnu 2. Knew 3. New – Here, all the options are incorrect and don't fit in the given sentences.
Option ‘d’ is 1. Knew 2. Gnu 3. New – Here, all the three options are incorrect and do not fit in.
As we have analyzed all the given options, we can easily figure out the correct answer. Here, the correct words which will fit in the given sentences are 1. Knew 2. New and 3. Gnu.
The sentences will be :
They knew they couldn’t win the race.
It was a brand new car.
The lions chased the gnu into a corner before attacking it.
So, the correct answer is “Option b”.

Note:
One must know the meaning of the different words, considered as homophones, in order to find out the correct answer. Sometimes, they are confusing.