In this vocabulary based sentence completion question, choose the word that best completes the sentence: "The judge used his ___ in settling the matter."

Introduction / Context:
This question checks your understanding of a common legal and formal English word that is frequently used in news articles and judgments. A judge resolving a dispute will rely on law, evidence, and a particular quality of personal judgement. You must identify which noun fits naturally after "used his" in this legal context.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Sentence: "The judge used his ___ in settling the matter."
• The subject is "the judge", and the setting is clearly legal.
• Options: Know, Tactics, Discretion, Brains.
• We expect a noun that describes a quality relevant to judicial decision making.

Concept / Approach:
In legal and formal English, "discretion" refers to the power or freedom to decide what should be done in a particular situation. Phrases like "judicial discretion" or "at the judge discretion" are very common. The sentence implies that the judge used his lawful freedom of judgement to resolve an issue. While "brains" and "tactics" are English words, they are too informal or not precise enough in this context. "Know" is not a correct noun form here. Therefore, "discretion" is the most appropriate word to use.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise the legal context: the subject is a judge and the phrase "settling the matter" suggests a case or dispute. Step 2: Recall standard collocations such as "use his discretion" or "exercise judicial discretion" which are common in legal language. Step 3: Check each option for grammatical and contextual fit. "Know" is not a countable noun here, "tactics" is more about strategy, and "brains" is very informal. Step 4: Insert "discretion" in the blank: "The judge used his discretion in settling the matter." This fits perfectly and sounds natural. Step 5: Confirm that this word accurately describes the judge ability to choose among possible legal responses.

Verification / Alternative check:
Try substituting other options. "The judge used his tactics in settling the matter" sounds odd, as tactics are more associated with sports or warfare, not with impartial legal judgement. "The judge used his brains" is very informal and would rarely be used in a serious legal context. "The judge used his know" is simply ungrammatical. Only "discretion" aligns with common legal usage and gives the sentence the desired formal tone.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"Know" is a verb and does not work as a noun after "his". The correct noun would be "knowledge", but even "used his knowledge" does not capture the legal nuance of the sentence.

"Tactics" suggests planned manoeuvres in games, politics, or battles and is not the typical word for judicial decision making.

"Brains" is a slangy way of talking about intelligence, inappropriate in the formal setting of a judge settling a legal matter.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes overlook the formal context of a sentence and choose words that would work in casual conversation. When the subject is a judge, lawyer, government official, or similar formal role, always consider formal vocabulary commonly used in that domain. Learning expressions like "exercise discretion", "use prudence", and "apply reason" will help you recognise the correct choice quickly.

Final Answer:
The correct completion is "Discretion", so the full sentence is: "The judge used his discretion in settling the matter."