Choose the correct pair of words from the options given to fill in the blank in the given sentence:
Rekha's ___responses were responsible for her failure at the interview for the most____job on the campus.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → obtuse, coveted
Obtuse means slow to understand, lacking sharpness of mind. Dull, unintelligent answers explain why Rekha failed the interview.
Example: The panel was annoyed by his obtuse replies.
Coveted means greatly desired by many people. "The most coveted job on the campus" is the job every student wants.
Example: The Nobel Prize is the most coveted award in science.
Complete sentence: Rekha's obtuse responses were responsible for her failure at the interview for the most coveted job on the campus.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: tedious, demanding — Incorrect.
- Tedious means long and boring; boring answers do not by themselves show a lack of understanding.
Example: The journey was long and tedious. - "The most demanding job" means the hardest job, not the one everybody wants; with "most", "coveted" fits the sense of a prized job.
Option 3: dampening, tedious — Incorrect.
- Dampening means making others less eager or cheerful; it describes an effect on others, not the quality of her answers.
Example: The bad news had a dampening effect on the party. - "The most tedious job" would be the most boring one, which no one would compete for.
Option 4: thoughtful, boring — Incorrect.
- Thoughtful means showing careful thought; thoughtful answers would help, not cause failure.
Example: She gave a thoughtful reply to a difficult question. - "The most boring job" goes against the sense of a job worth trying for.
The following words have also been asked in other CUET (UG) English papers:
| Word | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| obtuse | – | 19-05 S2 | – | – | – |