Choose the most appropriate option to fill in the blank in the given sentence:
The employees pull up their socks and work _________ harder during appraisals, in the hope of a promotion.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → significantly
Adverb before a comparative:
- A word that tells how much more must be an adverb placed before the comparative: much harder, far harder, significantly harder.
- Two-step check: 1. part of speech - the blank qualifies the comparative "harder" (the deciding clue), so an adverb; 2. meaning - the adverb must say "a good deal", not "unfairly".
- Significantly means to a large and noticeable degree.
- This sentence: during appraisals the employees work a good deal harder than usual, in the hope of a promotion.
- Complete sentence: The employees pull up their socks and work significantly harder during appraisals, in the hope of a promotion.
Example: Her marks improved significantly after she joined the coaching class.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: apparent — Incorrect. Apparent is an adjective meaning clear or seeming to be true; an adjective cannot qualify "harder" here.
Example: His nervousness was apparent to everyone.
Option 2: unreasonably — Incorrect. Unreasonably is an adverb, but it means beyond what is fair or sensible; working hard for a promotion is not unreasonable, so the meaning does not fit.
Example: The shopkeeper charged unreasonably high prices.
Option 4: considerable — Incorrect. Considerable is an adjective (large in amount); the adverb "considerably" would be needed before "harder".
Example: The flood caused considerable damage.
Contrast: an adverb (significantly, considerably) qualifies a comparative such as "harder"; an adjective (apparent, considerable) cannot.