You will be given a definition of a task first, then an example. Follow the example to solve a new instance of the task.
You are given an English sentence with a blank, and you need to predict the missing word. After completing, the whole sentence should be gramatically correct and non-ambiguous.

The kid on the street is ____ soccer
Solution: playing
Why? This is the original sentence 'The kid on the street is playing soccer' So, we have correctly predicted the missing word to be 'soccer'

New input: was so ludicrously afraid matthew however was spared the ordeal of speaking first for as soon as she concluded that he was coming to her she stood up ____ with one thin brown hand the handle of a shabby old fashioned carpet bag the other she held out to him
Solution:
grasping