In the following question, the sentence given with a blank is to be filled in with an appropriate word. Select the correct alternative out of the four and indicate it by selecting the appropriate option.
My mother is _______ fifty.

Correct option is C

The correct answer is “close."
Explanation:
· The phrase "close to fifty" means "almost fifty years old."
· "Close" is the correct choice because it expresses approximation in age.
Why are other options incorrect?
· “hardly" – Incorrect because "hardly" means "barely" and does not fit the context.
· “somewhere" – Incorrect because we say "somewhere around fifty", but "close to fifty" is more natural.
· “in" – Incorrect because "in fifty" is not a valid phrase.
Examples:
He is close to retirement age.
My father is close to sixty years old.
Corrected Sentence:
"My mother is close to fifty."