English Collocation — Identify the best meaning. Sentence (corrected): Jaya had a chequered career since I first knew him as an office assistant in the insurance company.

Introduction / Context:
“Chequered career” is a fixed collocation in British/Indian English indicating a career marked by varied, alternating phases—successes and setbacks, different roles, or mixed fortunes. It does not necessarily carry a negative judgment; rather, it emphasizes variety and contrasts across time. This question asks for the choice that captures that breadth of experience.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Key collocation: chequered career.
• Narrative frame: Jaya began as an office assistant and later had diverse experiences.
• We need a meaning that reflects variation, not merely income or a single task.

Concept / Approach:
The most accurate paraphrase is “Had a variety of jobs and experiences.” The checkerboard metaphor suggests alternating colors/fortunes—ups and downs or different phases. Options about earning more money or signing cheques misunderstand “chequered.” “Did odd jobs” narrows the meaning to casual, low-skill tasks, which is not required by the collocation.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Paraphrase: “Jaya’s career has been varied, with different roles and outcomes.” This reflects the standard dictionary explanation and the biographical context implied by the sentence.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• A career which helped him make lot of money: Focuses on income; “chequered” does not imply wealth.
• A career where he signed a lot of cheques: Literal wordplay on “cheque,” which is unrelated.
• Did odd jobs: Too narrow; “chequered” spans a whole career, not just temporary work.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing “chequered” with “cheque” due to spelling similarity. Remember the metaphor comes from checkerboards, not banking.

Final Answer:
Had a variety of jobs and experiences