In the following passage there are blanks, each of which has been numbered.…
2026
In the following passage there are blanks, each of which has been numbered. These numbers are printed below the passage and against each, a set of words is suggested, one of which fits the blank appropriately. Find out the appropriate word in each case.
As international oil prices head higher, India will have to ..(1).. itself for the economic risks of expensive energy. Brent crude oil futures were trading at about $70 a barrel on Friday, marking a four-year high and a price increase of close to 6% since the start of the year. The rise in international prices has been particularly sharp given that oil had been selling at below $45 in June. This is a rally of about 55% in a matter of just months. Oil price ..(2).. have often been explained by changes in the supply outlook ..(3).. by the decisions of major oil producers. Oil trading at $70 should offer some ..(4).. to traditional oil producers like the OPEC members, which have suffered the ..(5).. of U.S. shale producers.
Find the appropriate word in case 4
(question no 11 till 15 are linked together )
- A.
bastion
- B.
consummate
- C.
native
- D.
respite
Attempted by 2 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
In a vocabulary-based cloze test, each blank is filled by first identifying the grammatical and semantic role the missing word plays in the sentence, then matching that role against the dictionary meaning of each option. The correct word must fit both the grammatical slot and the sense implied by the surrounding context.
Here, oil prices have risen sharply after months of pressure from cheaper U.S. shale supply that hurt traditional producers such as OPEC members. The clause "oil trading at $70 should offer some ___ to traditional oil producers" therefore needs a noun meaning a break or ease from that hardship.
bastion: means a stronghold or a fortified defensive position — a place of protection, not a period of relief; does not fit the sense of easing hardship.
consummate: functions as an adjective (complete, highly skilled) or a verb (to finalize), not a noun that could follow "offer some ___ to"; grammatically and semantically mismatched.
native: means of local or indigenous origin, entirely unrelated to economic relief from price pressure.
respite: a noun meaning a short period of relief from something difficult — matches both the grammar slot and the context of producers getting a break from shale-driven price pressure.
"Respite" is the word that correctly completes blank (4).