Let’s first see the meanings of the given words:

Declared (verb) = openly or formally asserted or announced.

Expressed (verb) = convey (a thought or feeling) in words or by gestures and conduct.

Emote (verb) = especially of an actor) portray emotion in a theatrical manner.

Said (verb) = utter words so as to convey information, an opinion, a feeling or intention, or an instruction.

The passage is about the Centre’s answer to an RTI (i.e. whether ‘hockey’ is our national game or not). The ministry has strongly stated that it has never been announced that ‘hockey’ is the national game of India. Therefore, the verb ‘declared’ is the best fit for the blank.

Hence, option A is the correct answer.

Let’s first see the meanings of the given words:

Verdict = a decision on an issue of fact in a civil or criminal case or an inquest.

Response = a verbal or written answer.

Authority = the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience.

Reaction = something done, felt, or thought in response to a situation or event.

RTI stands for Right to information. A person files an RTI to seek the answer for his question that is not widely available in the public domain. Therefore, the word ‘response’ is the best fit here.

Hence, option B is the correct answer.

Let’s see in what context we use the above given options:

What = used to ask for information about people or things

Where = to, at, or in what place

When = at what time; at the time at which

Who = used especially in questions as the subject or object of a verb, when asking which person or people, or when asking what someone's name is

The word used before the blank is ‘asked’. The student wanted to know the year in which hockey was declared as the national game. He asked about the ‘time’.

Hence, option C is the correct answer.

The sentence mentions that all sports/games are equally important to the government. And they have not declared any one specific game/sports as the national game. Hence, option D, i.e. “any” is the correct answer.

The verb must agree to the subject in number. Here, the subject is “the objective” which is singular. Therefore, we will use a singular verb here. This eliminates options A and D. “To” is followed by a base form of the verb. The use of “be” in option C and the word following the blank (promote/encourage) is incorrect as we need only 1 verb here. Also, it is still (in present too) the objective of the government to promote the sports. Thus, it has to be in the present form.

Hence, option B is the correct answer.

The passage is about a famous personality, Madam Curie and her achievements. She is known for her contributions in the field of radioactivity for which she was honoured with many prizes and awards. The word “bestowed” means to give something as an honour or present to someone. It is appropriate for the blank.

We use the preposition “on/upon” with ‘bestowed’.

Hence, option A is the correct answer.

The correct word that will come in the blank is ‘with’ as “together with” means as well as or along with. It implies that Madam Curie was awarded along with her husband.

Hence, option D is the correct answer.

The definite article ‘the’ is used before nouns to refer to particular things (like Noble prize here) that are already known.

Hence, option A is the correct answer.

“Who” is a relative pronoun used for the person “Becquerel”. Since the sentence is of past, we will use a verb of past, i.e. either ‘was’ or ‘were’ here. “Becquerel” is a singular noun; therefore, we will use a singular verb ‘was’ here.

Hence, option B is the correct answer.

The sentence is of simple past tense as a year of past (1911) has been mentioned in the sentence. Therefore, we will use a verb in V2 form.

Hence, option C is the correct answer.