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SSC MTS 2024 PYQ — Question 90

SSC MTS - 16/10/2024 - (12:30 PM - 2:30 PM) • English • Q90

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In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.

It was just before noon on June 26, 1975, and my friend and I were out exploring the bustling by-lanes of Delhi’s Karol Bagh, unaware that the Emergency had been declared, and that it would change our lives in ways we could have never ___1___. Though Indira Gandhi had herself announced the Emergency in a national broadcast at 8 am, IST, the news took its own time to reach the common people who went about their business as always. However, two hours into our outing, we ___2___ something was wrong. The pavement shops began to thin out as we watched and the bigger outlets too looked ready to ___3___; many of them worked behind half-downed shutters. We were young but fancied ourselves as political animals, which at the time was shorthand for being passionately anti-Congress and anti-Indira. There was no way we were going to head home without knowing what had happened. There was already considerable excitement in our small friends’ circle over two ___4___ developments: the June 12, 1975 Allahabad high court ruling unseating Indira for electoral malpractices and the Congress’s unexpected defeat in the State election in Gujarat. The Supreme Court had allowed Indira to continue as prime minister but that did not ___5___ our joy; it was a technical reprieve that did not lessen the political blow she had received.

Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 5.

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D

Explanation

The correct answer is option 4 i.e. dampen.

Context:
The writer explains that even though the Supreme Court allowed Indira Gandhi to continue as Prime Minister, that decision did not reduce their happiness because the political blow was still strong.

Meaning of the words:

  • Diminished = reduced, made less

  • Dampen = weaken, reduce the effect of

  • Adopted = accepted or took up

  • Magnified = made bigger or stronger

Correct word:
The sentence is: “The Supreme Court had allowed Indira to continue as prime minister but that did not 5 our joy...”
Here, dampen fits best because it means lessen the excitement or joy.

Reason:

  • 'Diminished' is close in meaning but 'dampen' is more natural and commonly used in this context.

  • 'Adopted' does not make sense here.

  • 'Magnified' means increased, which is opposite to the meaning required.

Final Sentence:
The Supreme Court had allowed Indira to continue as prime minister but that did not dampen our joy; it was a technical reprieve that did not lessen the political blow she had received.

Hence, the chosen option will be correct.