Choose the appropriate word from the given options to complete the following sentence.
The Company's offer of unconditional talks was __________ a ploy to create a split among the striking workers.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → obviously
Obviously means in a way that is easy to see or understand. The offer of talks was plainly a trick ("a ploy") to divide the striking workers, and anyone could see it.
Example: He was obviously tired after the long journey.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: mercifully — Incorrect. Mercifully means fortunately, to one's relief (or with mercy); the sentence does not express relief.
Example: Mercifully, no one was hurt in the fire.
Option 2: delicately — Incorrect. Delicately means carefully and gently or with tact; it does not describe how plain the ploy was.
Example: She delicately lifted the injured bird.
Option 3: luckily — Incorrect. Luckily means by good fortune; a ploy to split the workers is not good luck.
Example: Luckily, we reached the station before the train left.