Question
Choose the most appropriate word from the options given below to complete the following sentence.
If you are trying to make a strong impression on your audience, you cannot do so by being understated, tentative or _______.
Official answer and solution
- Official answer
- B
- From
- Official GATE 2011 answer key
Solution
Use the syntactic parallelism of the list of adjectives to determine the term that aligns with 'understated' and 'tentative'.
- The sentence reads: 'If you are trying to make a strong impression on your audience, you cannot do so by being understated, tentative or _______.'
- The words 'understated' and 'tentative' both describe qualities of being timid, hesitant, or muted, which hinder making an emphatic impression. The coordinating conjunction 'or' requires a third adjective of parallel semantic tone.
- Evaluating the options:
- hyperbolic: exaggerated or bold, which is opposite in direction to understated.
- restrained: characterized by reserve or moderation, perfectly parallel with 'understated' and 'tentative'.
- argumentative: aggressive or disputatious, which is not synonymous with holding back.
- indifferent: unconcerned or apathetic, which does not convey the stylistic timidity of delivery.
- Hence, restrained (Option B) is the most appropriate word.
Final answer
B
The answer is the one in the official GATE answer key. The solution is this site's own explanation.
Source
- Paper
- GATE 2011 Computer Science and Information Technology (CS)
- Question
- 59 of 65, printed as GA Q.59
- Section
- General Aptitude
Report an error in this question
GATE questions are the work of the organising institutes. This site is independent and is not affiliated with them.