Question

Fill in the correct word keeping in mind the lest-should condition:

The roads must be paved well, lest the cracks should ___________.

• A. decrease
• B. widen
• C. reduce
• D. None of these

Answer 1

The correct option is B widen

"Lest" means "for fear that" or "in order to avoid" and is usually followed by something that should be avoided. Moreover, the construction of "should" in such a sentence is usually should + verb (base form of the infinitive).

Option B is correct. The roads need to be paved well so that the cracks can be filled. Option B describes a situation that needs to be avoided and it hence the correct answer. Moreover, it follows the construction of should + verb (bare form of the infinitive), i.e., "should widen".

Option A is incorrect. In the case of this option, the situation becomes something that the subject wants. It defeats the purpose of using "lest" and is thus grammatically incorrect.

Option C is incorrect for the same reason as A. The situation where the cracks reduce is not something the subject wants to avoid. Therefore, it is incorrect.

Option D is incorrect since the answer is option B.