Passage: In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank. Random acts of kindness (1) ________ a wonderful way to spread joy and positivity in our world. Kindness (2) _______ an action that can be as simple as offering a compliment to a stranger or helping someone carry a heavy load. It (3) _______ that a single act of kindness can start a ripple effect of compassion and generosity. The concept of random acts of kindness (4) ______ around for some time, but it (5) ________ renewed popularity in the 1990s when a group of people began passing out cards with the phrase ‘Practice Random Acts of Kindness and Senseless Acts of Beauty’ written on them. Question: Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank 1.

1. is
2. are
3. was
4. were