In the following sentence, a blank is given. Select the most appropriate word from the options to complete the sentence meaningfully: The ________ with which she manages the task is remarkable.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: ease

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question tests your understanding of collocations in English, that is, words that commonly appear together. The sentence describes how someone manages a task and praises this quality as "remarkable". You must choose the noun that most naturally fits in the pattern "the ________ with which she manages the task".



Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The sentence structure is "The ________ with which she manages the task is remarkable."
  • We are describing the manner or way in which the task is handled.
  • Options: calm, comfort, ease, satisfaction.
  • The resulting phrase should sound idiomatic, that is, like natural English used by competent speakers.


Concept / Approach:
A very common and natural expression in English is "the ease with which someone does something". It means that the person does the task effortlessly or without apparent difficulty. The noun "ease" fits perfectly in this slot. "Calm" is usually preceded by "with" in phrases like "with calm", but "the calm with which she manages the task" is less usual and focuses on emotional state rather than skill. "Comfort" and "satisfaction" both collocate poorly with "with which she manages the task" and refer to different concepts.



Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Consider what the sentence praises: not her feelings, but the manner of managing the task. It is about how effortlessly or smoothly she works.Step 2: Insert "ease": "The ease with which she manages the task is remarkable." This sounds completely natural and widely used in English.Step 3: Test "calm": "The calm with which she manages the task is remarkable." This is grammatically possible but less idiomatic. It shifts the focus towards her emotional calmness instead of the difficulty level of the task.Step 4: Test "comfort": "The comfort with which she manages the task" sounds awkward. We normally talk about being comfortable with something, not about "the comfort with which" we perform an action.Step 5: Test "satisfaction": "The satisfaction with which she manages the task" would refer to how satisfied she feels, not to the way she handles the task. This does not match the idea of something being "remarkable" in terms of skill or effortlessness.


Verification / Alternative check:
Think of similar sentences: "The ease with which he solved the puzzle surprised everyone", "The ease with which they adapted to the new rules was impressive." In all such cases, "ease" indicates that the action was not hard for the person. The same pattern fits perfectly here, reinforcing that "ease" is the right choice. Substituting "calm", "comfort" or "satisfaction" in these sentences would sound odd or distort the intended meaning.



Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"Calm" emphasises emotional serenity rather than effortlessness; the sentence does not specifically discuss her emotions. "Comfort" usually refers to physical ease or lack of pain, or to emotional reassurance, not to the way a person performs a task. "Satisfaction" describes a feeling after the task is done, not the manner of doing it. None of these options matches the common collocation "the ease with which", which is what the structure strongly suggests.



Common Pitfalls:
Sometimes learners rely only on the positive tone of words and pick any that sound pleasant, such as "calm" or "satisfaction". However, English fluency depends greatly on choosing the right collocation. When a phrase like "the ________ with which" appears, it is useful to recall typical patterns: "the speed with which", "the ease with which", "the way in which". Remembering such patterns will help you answer many similar questions quickly.



Final Answer:
The most appropriate word to complete the sentence is ease, so option C is correct.


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