In the question below four words are given in bold. These four words may not…
2025
In the question below four words are given in bold. These four words may not be in their correct position. The sentence is then followed by options with the correct combination of words that should replace each other in order to make the sentence grammatically and contextually correct. Find the correct combination of the words that replace each other.
Recent space relentless (A) highlight humanity's breakthroughs (B) pursuit of cosmic knowledge, propelling (C) us toward a future of exploration (D) and discovery."
- A.
B-C & A-D
- B.
A-B
- C.
C-D
- D.
A-C & B-D
- E.
No interchange required
Attempted by 2 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Concept
In a word-swap (interchange) question, exactly the pair of bold words that are sitting in each other's grammatical slot must be exchanged. A correct sentence needs each slot filled by a word of the right part of speech and meaning: the subject of a clause must be a noun, an attributive modifier before a noun must be an adjective, and a participle/verb must occupy the verb position. Test a swap by checking that every slot becomes both grammatical and meaningful.
Application
Read the sentence and tag the role each slot needs:
"Recent space ___ highlight ..." — the verb "highlight" needs a plural noun subject, so this slot must hold a noun.
"humanity's ___ pursuit" — between the possessive "humanity's" and the noun "pursuit" the slot must hold an adjective.
"___ us toward a future" — this slot already holds the participle "propelling", which correctly governs "us"; it is fine as is.
"a future of ___ and discovery" — this slot already holds the noun "exploration", which pairs with "discovery"; it is fine as is.
The two misplaced words are the noun "breakthroughs" (currently in the adjective slot) and the adjective "relentless" (currently in the noun-subject slot). Interchanging the words at A and B fixes both:
Recent space breakthroughs highlight humanity's relentless pursuit of cosmic knowledge, propelling us toward a future of exploration and discovery.
Cross-check
Every other interchange breaks the sentence: leaving A and B in place keeps "relentless highlight" (adjective acting as subject) and "breakthroughs pursuit" (two nouns clashing), while touching C or D yields "exploration us toward" or "propelling highlight", both ungrammatical. Only the A-B interchange leaves all four slots correct, so it is the answer.