Which of the following pairs of homonyms can be used to fill in the blanks most suitably?
After realizing their leader had planned to ____ them in the middle of the vast _____, the people refused to follow him any further.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
The correct option is (D) desert, desert.
The first blank requires the verb form of 'desert', which means to abandon or leave someone in a helpless situation. The second blank requires the noun 'desert', which means a vast, arid, and empty region. The sentence describes a leader planning to abandon people in a vast desert.
The other options use the noun 'dessert' (a sweet course eaten after a meal), which does not fit the context of the sentence.