In this sentence completion question, choose the most appropriate adjective to complete the sentence "You may try but she is too ______________ to fall for your trick."

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: intelligent

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:

This question evaluates your understanding of appropriate word choice and collocation in English. The sentence "You may try but she is too ______________ to fall for your trick." describes someone who is clever enough not to be deceived. Your task is to select the adjective that naturally fits both the grammatical structure and the intended meaning. This tests not only vocabulary but also how certain words are normally used with "too" and with phrases like "to fall for your trick".


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The sentence structure is "too + adjective + to + verb".
  • The options are brilliant, intelligent, genius, and witty.
  • The meaning suggested is that the woman is clever enough not to be fooled.
  • The tone is conversational but grammatically standard.


Concept / Approach:

In English, collocations like "too intelligent to fall for that" or "too smart to fall for a trick" are very common. The focus is on mental sharpness and good judgment, not necessarily on an exceptionally high level of talent or on sense of humour. "Intelligent" directly describes general mental ability and is widely used with "too" in this kind of negative infinitive structure. "Brilliant" is stronger and usually used for exceptional talent, which might sound slightly exaggerated in everyday speech. "Genius" functions mainly as a noun, and using it as an adjective here feels unnatural. "Witty" describes someone who is humorous and quick with jokes, not necessarily someone who simply does not get deceived.


Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Identify the idea conveyed: the person is clever and sensible enough not to be tricked.Step 2: Test "brilliant". "Too brilliant to fall for your trick" is possible but gives a more dramatic tone and is less standard than "too intelligent".Step 3: Test "intelligent". "Too intelligent to fall for your trick" is natural and matches typical everyday and exam style English.Step 4: Test "genius". "Too genius to fall for your trick" is grammatically awkward because "genius" is normally a noun in such sentences.Step 5: Test "witty". "Too witty to fall for your trick" changes the focus to humour and clever talk, not general intelligence.Step 6: Choose "intelligent" as the best fit in terms of meaning, grammar, and collocation.


Verification / Alternative check:

Try replacing the blank and reading the sentence aloud: "You may try but she is too intelligent to fall for your trick." This sounds smooth and matches common spoken and written English. If you substitute "brilliant", the sentence becomes slightly exaggerated but still possible; however exam questions usually prefer the most neutral and standard option. "Too genius" is clearly incorrect and unidiomatic. "Too witty" does not focus on resistance to deception but on a humorous personality. The naturalness of "too intelligent to fall for your trick" confirms the choice.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

"Brilliant" tends to describe extraordinary talent in a particular field, such as "a brilliant student" or "a brilliant scientist", and while not completely wrong, it is not the simplest and most direct choice for general cleverness here. "Genius" is normally used as a noun in sentences like "She is a genius", so using it in this syntactic frame is incorrect. "Witty" refers to being humorous and quick with jokes, which does not necessarily imply resistance to being tricked.


Common Pitfalls:

Many candidates overvalue dramatic or impressive sounding words like "brilliant" and "genius". Examiners, however, usually expect the option that is most idiomatic and grammatically straightforward in the specific sentence. A good strategy is to think about what native speakers would most commonly say in everyday conversation in a similar situation and then choose that expression.


Final Answer:

The most appropriate adjective is intelligent, giving "You may try but she is too intelligent to fall for your trick."

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