Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank. The sky is quite overcast. We're to have rain today.

Question

Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank.

The sky is quite overcast. We're to have rain today.

1. A. likely (Correct answer)
2. B. mostly
3. C. surely
4. D. certainly

Correct Answer

Option A — likely

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is likely.

Key Points

• "Be likely to" is the standard structure for expressing probability before a verb — *We're likely to have rain*.
• The first sentence, *"The sky is quite overcast"*, offers evidence for a probable outcome, not a certain one, so a word of probability is required.
• Surely and certainly express certainty, which overstates what an overcast sky can tell us, and neither fits the *be + adjective + to + verb* pattern naturally.
• Mostly means "for the most part" and cannot express future probability at all.

Additional Information

• Remember the pattern: *likely* is an adjective and takes *to + verb*, whereas *probably* is an adverb and would need a different structure — *We'll probably have rain today.*