Choose the appropriate word to fill in the blank:
It was a challenge to _____ a response from the prisoner.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → elicit
Complete sentence: It was a challenge to elicit a response from the prisoner. Getting the prisoner to respond was difficult, so "a challenge to elicit a response" is the right verb.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) illicit | not allowed by law, illegal (an adjective that sounds like elicit but cannot be used as a verb) | The police seized a large stock of illicit liquor. |
| (2) licit | allowed by law, lawful (an adjective, the opposite of illicit, and not a verb) | The firm deals only in licit trade. |
| (3) elicit (answer) | to draw out a response, an answer or information from someone, often with effort | The teacher's question failed to elicit a single answer from the class. |
| (4) ellicit | a misspelling of elicit (there is no such word) | – |
| Also asked in CUET (UG): illicit – 15-05-2026 Slot 1, 19-07-2024 Slot 1, 16-07-2022 Slot 1 licit – 16-07-2022 Slot 1 elicit – 15-05-2026 Slot 1, 03-06-2025 Slot 1, 19-07-2024 Slot 1, 06-06-2023 Slot 1, 16-07-2022 Slot 1 |