Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: coincidence
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question tests your understanding of vocabulary and contextual usage in English. The sentence describes a surprising situation where someone calls at exactly the same time as their number is being dialled. You must choose the word that best fits the meaning of this situation and completes the sentence naturally. Such questions are common in competitive exams to check practical understanding of word meanings in real life contexts.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The key idea is that two events occur at the same time by chance: the speaker is dialling the number, and the other person calls. The natural word for such an event is "coincidence", which means a remarkable occurrence of events or circumstances without any apparent causal connection. The other options either refer to a relationship between variables, a joining together, a general event, or a supernatural event, and do not fit as well in normal conversational English.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the emotion in the sentence. The speaker is pleasantly surprised.
Step 2: Focus on the phrase "just as I was keying your phone number". This points to two actions occurring at the same time.
Step 3: Think of a word that describes such chance timing. "Coincidence" is commonly used when two related things happen together by chance.
Step 4: Check "correlation". It is a technical term used in statistics for a relationship between two variables, not for such daily events.
Step 5: "Union" suggests joining or marriage, which does not fit this context.
Step 6: "Happening" is a general word for an event and is too vague.
Step 7: "Miracle" suggests something supernatural, which is too strong for a simple phone call coincidence, though it might be used humorously. The best neutral and common word is "coincidence".
Verification / Alternative check:
Imagine how native speakers would express this situation in conversation. They would usually say "What a coincidence" rather than "What a correlation" or "What a happening". Even if someone jokingly says "What a miracle", exams prefer the standard, neutral term that fits most contexts. Reading the sentence aloud with each option will show that "coincidence" sounds the most natural and correct.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"Correlation" is mostly used in scientific or statistical contexts and does not fit casual speech here. "Union" implies a formal joining or association, not just two actions happening together by chance. "Happening" is too general and does not capture the element of surprise. "Miracle" is exaggerated and usually reserved for events that seem impossible or supernatural, which is not implied in a simple phone call example.
Common Pitfalls:
Some students mix up "coincidence" and "correlation", thinking both mean any relationship between events. However, "correlation" is technical and does not imply chance in the same conversational way. Another pitfall is to be attracted to dramatic words like "miracle" without checking whether the tone of the sentence justifies such intensity. Always match the option to the realistic context of the sentence.
Final Answer:
The word that best completes the sentence is coincidence.
Discussion & Comments