Question 1

The athlete's __________ to training and discipline has made her one of the most successful competitors in the sport.

Accepted Answer

The blank requires a noun meaning 'loyalty, commitment, or dedication.' 'Devotion' is correct—it means sincere and intense dedication to a cause or person. 'Demotion' (option A) means reduction in rank or position. 'Emotion' (option C) means a feeling or sentiment. 'Commotion' (option D) means a disturbance or fuss.

Question 2

The government has announced a new policy to __________ the rising unemployment rate in the country.

Accepted Answer

The blank requires a verb that means 'to reduce' or 'to control' in the context of addressing a social problem. 'Curb' is the most appropriate choice as it means to restrain or limit something unwanted. 'Curtail' (reduce in extent) and 'curb' are similar, but 'curb' is more commonly used with negative phenomena like unemployment, inflation, or crime. 'Surge' means to increase suddenly, which is opposite to the intended meaning. 'Defer' means to postpone, which doesn't fit the context of addressing unemployment.

Question 3

The teacher was __________ by the student's remarkable progress in mathematics over the past six months.

Accepted Answer

The blank requires an adjective describing the teacher's emotional state. 'Impressed' is correct—it means to be affected positively by something. 'Depressed' (option A) means sad or low in spirits. 'Oppressed' (option C) means burdened or suppressed. 'Expressed' (option D) is a verb meaning to communicate, not an adjective for emotional state.

Question 4

The company's new product line has __________ the expectations of both critics and consumers alike.

Accepted Answer

The blank requires a verb meaning 'to go beyond or surpass.' 'Exceeded' is correct—it means to go beyond a limit or expectation. 'Receded' (option A) means to move back or withdraw. 'Preceded' (option C) means to come before. 'Seceded' (option D) means to withdraw from a union or group.

Question 5

The ancient manuscript was so __________ that scholars spent years trying to decipher its meaning.

Accepted Answer

The blank requires an adjective meaning 'difficult to understand or unclear.' 'Obscure' is correct—it means unclear, hard to understand, or not well-known. 'Secure' (option A) means safe or protected. 'Obscene' (option C) means offensive or indecent. 'Obscured' (option D) is a past participle (verb form), not an adjective.

Question 6

The committee members were __________ about the proposal, with some supporting it and others opposing it vehemently.

Accepted Answer

The blank requires an adjective that describes a state of disagreement or lack of consensus among the committee members.

Question 7

The new policy aims to __________ the gap between rural and urban development by investing heavily in infrastructure.

Accepted Answer

The blank requires a verb that means to reduce or close a gap or disparity.

Question 8

Despite her __________ efforts to learn the language, she struggled to achieve fluency within the given timeframe.

Accepted Answer

The blank requires an adjective that describes the quality of her efforts, which contrasts with her failure to achieve fluency.

Question 9

The economist warned that __________ government spending without corresponding revenue growth would lead to unsustainable debt levels.

Accepted Answer

The blank requires a verb or adjective that describes the problem of spending beyond means or without proper control.

Question 10

The committee has decided to __________ the project deadline by two weeks in order to ensure quality deliverables and avoid rushed work.

Accepted Answer

The sentence requires a verb that means 'to move to a later date' or 'to delay'. The context clue 'in order to ensure quality deliverables and avoid rushed work' indicates a postponement is necessary. 'Postpone' is the most appropriate word choice here.

Question 11

The government has __________ strict measures to curb inflation and stabilise the economy.

Accepted Answer

The blank requires a verb in past participle form to complete the present perfect tense 'has __________'. The context indicates a completed action with present relevance.

Question 12

The economist's argument, though __________ in its presentation, was fundamentally flawed because it ignored crucial data that contradicted the main thesis.

Accepted Answer

The blank requires an adjective describing how the argument was presented (positively), contrasting with 'fundamentally flawed.' 'Cogent' means convincing or compelling in argument. 'Spurious' means false, 'fallacious' means based on faulty reasoning, and 'tenuous' means weak or insubstantial—all suggest the argument itself was weak, not just its conclusion.

Question 13

The committee's decision to __________ the controversial policy has drawn criticism from both supporters and opponents, as many believe it neither fully addresses the core issues nor satisfies the demands of reform advocates.

Accepted Answer

The blank requires a word that conveys a middle-ground action—something that is neither a complete rejection nor full acceptance. 'Shelve' (postpone indefinitely) fits perfectly because it explains why both sides are dissatisfied: the decision avoids commitment. 'Revoke' means to cancel outright (would satisfy opponents but not supporters). 'Endorse' means to approve (would satisfy supporters but not opponents). 'Amend' means to modify (suggests active change, not avoidance).

Question 14

The author's tendency to __________ every minor detail in the narrative made the novel tedious, as readers found themselves bogged down by unnecessary descriptions that added little to the plot.

Accepted Answer

The blank requires a verb meaning 'to describe or treat at excessive length.' 'Elaborate' (as a verb) means to add detail or explain further, but in this context 'expatiate' is more precise—it means to speak or write at length about something, often excessively. 'Abbreviate' means to shorten, 'condense' means to compress, and 'summarise' means to give a brief account—all opposite to the criticism.

Question 15

The government's new policy has been criticised for being __________ in its approach, failing to account for the diverse needs of different socioeconomic groups across the nation.

Accepted Answer

The blank requires an adjective meaning 'treating everything the same without distinction.' 'Monolithic' means uniform, rigid, or treating as a single unit without variation. 'Pragmatic' means practical, 'nuanced' means showing subtle understanding, and 'flexible' means adaptable—all opposite to what the sentence criticises.

SBI PO Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the Blanks— Rules & Concept

Key Points to Remember

Exam-Specific Tips

Fill in the Blanks — Practice Questions

60-Second Revision — Fill in the Blanks