Read the following passage and answer the given questions. Certain words are…
2024
Read the following passage and answer the given questions.
Certain words are highlighted to answer some of the questions. Emotional intelligence (EQ) is increasingly recognized as a key component of success in both personal and professional realms. While men and women may possess similar overall levels of EQ, research consistently shows that they tend to excel in different emotional competencies. Women often score higher in areas such as empathy, interpersonal relationships, and social responsibility, whereas men tend to perform better in assertiveness, stress tolerance, and self-regard (or confidence). These differences lay the foundation for the distinct emotional approaches each gender brings to the workplace, shaped by both biological factors and the powerful process of socialization.
Socialization plays a significant role in determining these gender-specific strengths. From an early age, boys and girls receive different messages about how they should behave. Boys are often ___________ to be competitive, confident, assertive, and decisive, and are taught that winning is of primary importance. Girls, on the other hand, are socialized to be nurturing, empathetic, and emotionally expressive. They learn to value relationships and cooperation over competition. These early experiences influence the development of specific emotional intelligence skills, with boys becoming more assertive and confident and girls excelling in empathy and interpersonal communication.
As boys and girls grow into adults, these learned behaviors are reinforced by societal norms and expectations. In the workplace, these socialized behaviors manifest in ways that can impact professional roles and leadership opportunities. Men’s strengths in assertiveness and self-regard often give them an advantage in competitive environments, helping them excel in leadership positions. Meanwhile, women’s strengths in empathy and interpersonal relationships make them highly effective in teamwork and collaborative settings, though these skills are sometimes undervalued in leadership hierarchies. These gender-based differences in emotional intelligence may contribute to the leadership gender gap. Men's natural tendencies toward assertiveness and confidence can help them rise in hierarchical structures, while women’s empathy and relational strengths are often better suited for team-oriented roles. Recognizing and valuing these differences can help organizations leverage the diverse emotional strengths of both genders, fostering a more balanced and inclusive leadership landscape.
Which of the following words has the similar meaning as “lay” (as used in the passage)?
- A.
Establish
- B.
Cover
- C.
Remove
- D.
Complicate
- E.
Dismiss
Attempted by 11 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Concept
In a vocabulary-in-context question, a word's meaning is fixed by the sentence it sits in, not by its dictionary entry in isolation. The verb "lay" has several senses (to place, to set down, to put in position), so the task is to read how it functions in this phrase and pick the option that preserves that exact function.
Application
Here the phrase is "these differences lay the foundation for...". "Lay the foundation" is a fixed expression meaning to set up, create, or put in place the basis on which something else is built. Substituting the candidate must keep the sentence meaning intact: "these differences establish the foundation for..." reads naturally and carries the same idea of building/creating a basis.
Contrast
Establish — to set up or create the basis; this matches "lay the foundation" exactly and keeps the sentence's meaning.
Cover — to spread over or conceal; this changes the sense from building a basis to hiding/spreading, which does not fit.
Remove — to take away; this is the opposite of putting a foundation in place.
Complicate — to make more difficult or tangled; the sentence is about creating a basis, not adding difficulty.
Dismiss — to reject or send away; this contradicts the idea of laying/building something.
Therefore the word with the same meaning as "lay" in this context is "establish".