Select the appropriate pair of words to fill in the blanks:
Opposition leaders were quick to ______ the minister for his ______ at the press conference, where he named the wrong state as his home state.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → lambast, gaffe
Complete sentence: Opposition leaders were quick to lambast the minister for his gaffe at the press conference, where he named the wrong state as his home state.
| Lambast (answer) | Gaffe (answer) | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | to criticise someone very harshly, usually in public | an embarrassing mistake made in public |
| Example | Fans on social media lambasted the selectors for dropping the team’s best bowler. | The host made a gaffe when he called the chief guest by the wrong name. |
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: chide, modesty — Incorrect. Modesty means the quality of not talking proudly about oneself. Example: In spite of winning three medals, Priya spoke with great modesty about her success.
Option 2: applaud, blunder — Incorrect. Applaud means to praise someone or clap for them. Example: The whole school stood up to applaud the girls’ hockey team.
Option 3: felicitate, candour — Incorrect. Felicitate means to honour or congratulate someone formally. Candour means the quality of being open and honest. Example: The club felicitated the old coach and praised the candour of his speech.