Select the most appropriate option that can replace the bracketed word segment in the following sentence.
Men (allowed) for Olympic artistic swimming for the first time at the 2024 Paris Games, the IOC confirmed on Thursday.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
The correct answer is option 4 i.e. are eligible.
The sentence refers to a present situation (for the 2024 Paris Games), and "are eligible" correctly reflects the current status of men’s participation in Olympic artistic swimming.
"Are eligible" means that men now meet the necessary conditions or qualifications to participate in Olympic artistic swimming.
"Allowed" suggests permission, which is less precise in this case, as eligibility typically refers to meeting specific criteria, not simply being given permission.
Hence, the correct sentence is:- "Men are eligible for Olympic artistic swimming for the first time at the 2024 Paris Games, the IOC confirmed on Thursday."