Choose the option which can substitute the underlined group of words correctly, without changing the meaning of the sentence.

'Holding the fatal telegram in her closed first, the distraught mother fell back on the couch.'

Option B is the correct answer.

The original sentence is: "Holding the fatal telegram in her closed first, the distraught mother fell back on the couch."

Option b) suggests: "The distraught mother fell on the couch."

"Fell on" means to collapse or drop onto a surface, which accurately reflects what the mother did in the context of the sentence. The telegram caused her distress, leading her to collapse onto the couch. This option effectively conveys the same meaning as the original sentence without altering it significantly. Thus, option b) is the appropriate substitution.

Note: There is typographical error in the question in the original CUET question paper