In the following passage, there are blanks, each of which has been denoted by…
2025
In the following passage, there are blanks, each of which has been denoted by a letter. For each blank, five options are given.
Choose the most appropriate word from the options that fits the blank appropriately.
In a healthy office environment, it is important that senior employees ___________(A) guidance and support to their juniors. Newcomers often feel ___________(B) when trying to understand their roles and responsibilities. A helpful senior can ___________(C) the learning process by sharing experiences and providing useful tips. This not only builds confidence but also ___________(D) stronger team relationships. When juniors feel respected and ___________(E), they are more likely to contribute effectively. Hence, mutual cooperation and mentorship are ___________(F) for maintaining a productive workplace.
Which of the following word best fits in blank B?
- A.
nervous
- B.
lazy
- C.
empty
- D.
anxiety
- E.
complete
Attempted by 4 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Concept
Sentence-completion blanks demand a word that fits the sentence's GRAMMAR (the word class the slot requires) and its MEANING (the sense the surrounding clauses set up). After a linking verb such as feel, become, or seem, the natural, idiomatic slot here takes a predicate ADJECTIVE describing a state of the subject; a bare noun, though sometimes grammatical, is the awkward register-trap, not the intended fit.
Applying it here
The clause is Newcomers often feel ___ when trying to understand their roles and responsibilities. The verb feel here calls for an adjective naming an emotional state. The context (new people, still unsure of their duties) points to unease or worry. nervous is an adjective meaning anxious or apprehensive, so feel nervous is both grammatically correct and the exact, idiomatic sense the sentence builds.
Why the other words fail
anxiety is a NOUN; although feel can take a noun, the idiomatic state-word this register wants is the adjective form, so the noun is the deliberate word-class trap rather than the natural fit.
lazy describes unwillingness to work, which contradicts juniors who are actively trying to understand their roles.
empty does not describe an emotional reaction to a new, uncertain situation and leaves the clause meaningless.
complete carries the opposite, positive sense of finished or whole, which clashes with the worry the sentence sets up.