Select the appropriate pair of words to fill in the blanks in the following sentence:-
The diligent investigator posed several ____ questions to the suspect in order to ____ the details of the case.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → incisive, elicit
The sentence describes the actions of a diligent investigator, implying they would use effective methods to solve a case.
First Blank (Adjective for Questions): A diligent investigator would ask sharp, insightful questions. Incisive (Adjective): (Of a person or mental process) intelligently analytical and clear-thinking; piercing. This fits the description of a diligent investigator's questions.
Second Blank (Verb for Investigator's Goal): The goal of asking questions is to draw out the facts. Elicit (Verb): To evoke or draw out (a response, answer, or fact) from someone. This fits the goal of uncovering case details.
The completed sentence is: "The diligent investigator posed several incisive questions to the suspect in order to elicit the details of the case."
Why the Other Options are Incorrect:
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evasive, confuse: Evasive questions avoid the issue, and an investigator's goal is not to confuse the details.
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irrelevant, obscure: Irrelevant questions are pointless, and obscure means to hide, which is the opposite of the investigator's goal.
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vague, exaggerate: Vague questions are unclear, and an investigator's goal is not to exaggerate the details.