The following question contains a sentence with a blank. Choose the most…
2025
The following question contains a sentence with a blank. Choose the most appropriate word or phrase from the given options that can most suitably replace the blank in the sentence.
The dentist had to _____________ the decayed tooth to prevent further infection.
- A.
modify
- B.
excuse
- C.
recruit
- D.
amplify
- E.
remove
Attempted by 1 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: E
Concept
In a sentence-completion (fill-the-blank) item, the correct word is the one whose dictionary meaning and natural collocation match the logic the sentence sets up. Read the surrounding clue words first, decide what action they demand, then test each option for that meaning.
Applying it here
The clue is "decayed tooth ... to prevent further infection". A decayed tooth is a source of infection, so the dentist's action must eliminate that source. The verb that means "to take away / extract" is the one that fits.
Identify the goal: stop infection from spreading.
Identify the object: a decayed tooth, i.e. the source of that infection.
Choose a verb meaning to take the source away → "remove" (extract the tooth).
Contrast with the near-misses
"modify" — means to change or adjust; merely altering a decayed tooth does not stop the infection.
"excuse" — means to forgive or release from an obligation; it does not describe a physical dental action.
"recruit" — means to enlist people for a job or cause; it is meaningless applied to a tooth.
"amplify" — means to increase or intensify; intensifying anything here would worsen, not prevent, the problem.
Result: "remove" is the word that completes the sentence logically.