SarkariPYQ

SSC CGL 2025 PYQ — Question 24

SSC CGL - 23 Sep 2025 - Shift 2 • English • Q24

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Fill in the blanks with the appropriate article.

In ________ absence of comprehensive data and ________ presence of conflicting anecdotal evidence, policy decisions often rest on precarious assumptions.

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Correct answer: B

Explanation

The correct answer is option 3 i.e. the, the.

 

Grammatical Analysis:

  • Definite Article ("The"): The definite article is used when referring to a specific noun that is defined by the context or a following phrase.

  • Noun Modification: In both parts of the sentence, the nouns "absence" and "presence" are followed by a prepositional phrase ("of...") that specifies exactly what is absent or present.

    • It is not just any absence, but "the absence of comprehensive data."

    • It is not just any presence, but "the presence of conflicting anecdotal evidence."

  • Parallelism: The sentence structure is balanced, and using the definite article for both blanks maintains a formal and grammatically consistent tone.

Hence, the chosen option is correct.