He worked hard lest he __ fare badly in the examination.

🧠 Explanation:

In the sentence “He worked hard lest he should fare badly in the examination,” “should” fits as it expresses a hypothetical outcome. The subjunctive mood, studied in linguistics, conveys precaution or consequence, ensuring grammatical precision. “Should” aligns with “lest,” indicating effort to avoid failure. Understanding this structure enhances clarity in formal writing or speech, particularly in academic or literary contexts. The word’s use vividly captures the motivation behind hard work, making the sentence effective in conveying intent and caution in preparing for challenging scenarios like exams.