Meaning: 'Struck' means to hit or have a strong effect on something, often suddenly, which is appropriate for describing a tragic event.

Wrong options:

• came: 'Came' suggests arrival but does not convey the suddenness or impact of the tragedy, making it contextually inappropriate.
• sparked: 'Sparked' implies initiating something, usually a reaction or event, which does not fit the context of a tragedy occurring.
• hit: 'Hit' could imply a physical impact but lacks the emotional weight and suddenness that 'struck' conveys in this context.

Correct answer: fate

Explanation: 'Fate' refers to a predetermined course of events, which fits the context of the men meeting an inevitable outcome. It aligns grammatically and contextually with the idea of destiny.

Meaning: 'Fate' means the development of events beyond a person's control, often seen as predetermined, which is suitable for the tragic circumstances described.

Wrong options:

• destiny: 'Destiny' is similar to 'fate' but often implies a more positive outcome, making it less fitting in this tragic context.
• fortune: 'Fortune' typically refers to luck or chance, which does not align with the inevitability suggested in the passage.
• conclusion: 'Conclusion' refers to an ending or result, which does not capture the sense of inevitability associated with the tragic events.

Correct answer: vain

Explanation: 'Vain' describes a futile hope, which fits the context of the survivors clinging to a hope that is unlikely to be fulfilled. It matches the tone of despair in the situation.

Meaning: 'Vain' means having no success or result; in this context, it indicates that their hope was unlikely to lead to rescue.

Wrong options:

• thin: 'Thin' suggests something insubstantial but does not convey the sense of hopelessness that 'vain' does.
• misty: 'Misty' implies obscurity or uncertainty, which does not accurately reflect the nature of their hope.
• faint: 'Faint' suggests weakness or lack of strength, but does not capture the complete lack of hope implied by 'vain.'

Correct answer: odds

Explanation: 'Odds' refers to the likelihood of something happening, which fits the context of the survivors discussing their chances of being rescued. It is grammatically correct and contextually relevant.

Meaning: 'Odds' means the ratio of the probability of an event occurring, which in this case indicates their slim chances of survival.

Wrong options:

• evens: 'Evens' does not relate to probability in this context and is not commonly used in discussions of chances.
• chances: 'Chances' could fit, but 'odds' is more specific in this context, emphasizing the unfavorable likelihood.
• hopes: 'Hopes' refers to desires or wishes, which does not convey the statistical aspect of their situation as effectively as 'odds.'

Correct answer: make

Explanation: 'Make' is used here to indicate the act of successfully reaching a destination, which fits grammatically and contextually with the idea of swimming back to shore.

Meaning: 'Make' means to succeed in reaching or achieving something, in this case, getting back to the shore.

Wrong options:

• do: 'Do' is too vague and does not convey the specific action of reaching a destination.
• find: 'Find' implies discovering something, which does not fit the context of swimming back to shore.
• reach: 'Reach' could fit, but 'make' is more commonly used in this context to indicate successful arrival.

Correct answer: good

Explanation: 'Good' is an adjective that conveys a positive assessment of John's actions, fitting the context of him saving a life. It aligns with the tone of gratitude expressed in the sentence.

Meaning: 'Good' means of high quality or satisfactory, indicating that John's actions were commendable.

Wrong options:

• fine: 'Fine' suggests adequacy but lacks the strong positive connotation that 'good' carries in this context.
• major: 'Major' implies significance but does not convey the personal appreciation expressed in the sentence.
• right: 'Right' suggests correctness but does not capture the sense of gratitude and value that 'good' does.