Choose the most appropriate word to fill in the blank:
Investigators found that the three bidders had ______ before the auction, agreeing in secret which of them would win each road contract and at what price.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → colluded
Complete sentence: Investigators found that the three bidders had colluded before the auction, agreeing in secret which of them would win each road contract and at what price.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) competed | tried to win something by doing better than others | Over two hundred schools competed for the three places in the national robotics final. |
| (2) colluded (answer) | worked together secretly to do something dishonest or unfair (fits bidders fixing the auction in secret) | The two shopkeepers had colluded to keep onion prices high all through the festival week. |
| (3) wavered | could not decide, or became unsure about a decision | Meena wavered between science and commerce until the very last day of admission. |
| (4) quarrelled | had an angry argument with someone | The twins quarrelled over the window seat for the whole train journey to Jaipur. |