Question

Choose the best option to complete the sentence:
Saleem is really ambitious. He wants to reach for the ________!
a) stars
b) sun
c) clouds
d) roof

Answer 1

Hint:
An idiomatic expression is an expression whose meanings cannot be inferred from the meanings of the words that make it up.
The given phrase in the sentence is an idiomatic expression.

Complete answer:
In the given question, there is an idiom which is to be completed by filling in the blank with the right option. This idiom refers to having high hopes, to being ambitious.
Option (a.), 'stars', puts the word ‘stars’ in the blank, which will thus make the phrase ‘reach for the stars’. This is an idiomatic phrase commonly used and it also satisfies the meaning of the idiom and sentence.
So, the correct answer is “Option a”.

Option (b.), ‘sun', option (c.), ‘clouds', and option (d.), ‘roof', refer to words that do not form an idiom when they are put into the blank of the sentence. They also do not provide the required meaning, which is only expressed by the idiomatic expression with ‘stars’. The meanings of the phrases thus formed using these options are very literal and irrelevant.
Therefore, option (b.), ‘sun', option (c.), ‘clouds', and option (d.), ‘roof' are incorrect.

The correct option is option (a.) stars, which will thus make the sentence- ‘Saleem is really ambitious. He wants to reach for the stars!’

Note:
In this question, an idiom is used. An idiom can also refer to a manner of speaking that is natural to native speakers of a language.
Some words related to the given idiom ‘reach for the stars’ are- work, strive, struggle, attempt, hope, ambition.