Each question has a sentence with two blanks followed by four pairs of words…
2024
Each question has a sentence with two blanks followed by four pairs of words as choices. From the choices, select the pair of words that can best complete the given sentence.
The turkey isn't cooked well because the oven is not functioning well. Well, it's the _________ of a bad workman blaming his _________.
- A.
case, tools
- B.
point, accordance
- C.
seen, needles
- D.
fortune, ears
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Concept: Sentence-completion items testing idioms require filling both blanks with the exact wording of an established English proverb, not just any grammatically fitting words, because the intended meaning of the sentence depends on that fixed phrase.
Application: The sentence describes someone performing poorly (an undercooked turkey, a malfunctioning oven) and points to the well-known proverb about deflecting blame onto one's tools. Filling the two blanks with "case" and "tools" reproduces this exact proverb: "it's the case of a bad workman blaming his tools" — meaning a person with poor skill blames their equipment instead of accepting responsibility.
Cross-check: none of the other word pairs completes any idiom that matches this blame-shifting meaning:
"point, accordance" does not form any recognised idiom about blaming faulty equipment.
"seen, needles" evokes an unrelated expression (like searching for a needle in a haystack) with no connection to blaming one's tools.
"fortune, ears" belongs to unrelated idioms (such as fortune favouring the brave, or lending an ear) that do not convey blame for poor performance.
So the pair that reproduces the proverb — "case, tools" — is the one that correctly completes the sentence.