In this sentence completion question, choose the most suitable verb to complete: "To better the public transport system, the municipality __ the scheme of securing dedicated lanes for buses."

Introduction / Context:
This English question checks your understanding of collocations and common expressions used in public policy and administration. The sentence describes an action by a municipality to improve the public transport system by introducing a certain scheme. You need to identify the verb that is normally used in formal English when a government body introduces a proposal or scheme for consideration.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The sentence is: "To better the public transport system, the municipality __ the scheme of securing dedicated lanes for buses."
• The options are: marketed, launched, floated, enhanced, announced.
• The subject is "the municipality", a local governing body.
• The object is "the scheme of securing dedicated lanes for buses", which is a policy idea.

Concept / Approach:
In administrative and journalistic English, the verb "to float" is often used with "a scheme", "a proposal", or "a plan" to mean "to put forward an idea for discussion or possible adoption". While "launch" can also be used with schemes, "float a scheme" is a very typical collocation, especially in Indian English newspaper style. The correct choice should match both the meaning and the standard phrase used in this context.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that the municipality is taking a policy step regarding public transport. Step 2: Understand that "the scheme of securing dedicated lanes for buses" is a proposal to reserve specific lanes for buses to improve efficiency. Step 3: Consider the verb "marketed". This usually refers to promoting a product or service to consumers and is not the usual verb for a government proposal. Step 4: Consider "launched". While you can launch a scheme, the sentence nuance focuses on putting forward a scheme for consideration rather than fully starting an implemented project. Step 5: Examine "floated". The expression "floated the scheme" means that the municipality proposed or suggested the scheme, which fits perfectly with the introduction of a new policy idea. Step 6: "Enhanced" would require a direct object already in existence, such as "enhanced the system", and does not collocate naturally with "the scheme". Step 7: "Announced" also could be used, but "announced the scheme of securing dedicated lanes" focuses on the public statement, whereas standard exam usage prefers the collocation "floated the scheme" for proposing such an idea. Step 8: Therefore, "floated" is the most appropriate and idiomatic verb in this sentence.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify by recalling how newspapers report government proposals. Sentences like "The ministry floated a new pension scheme" or "The government has floated a proposal to..." are very common. Replacing "floated" with "marketed" or "enhanced" would sound strange. "Launched" is close, but usually refers to rolling out a scheme that has already been approved, not just proposing it. This check confirms that "floated" is the best match.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• marketed: Used mainly in business and advertising contexts, not for government policy proposals.
• launched: More suitable for formally starting a fully designed scheme, less precise for first proposing it.
• enhanced: Means improved or increased, and does not fit with "scheme" as its object in this sentence.
• announced: Focuses on making information public, but does not capture the nuance of putting a new scheme forward as a proposal.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often choose "launched" because it is frequently used with schemes in general English. However, competitive exams are sensitive to collocation and nuance. Another pitfall is ignoring the specific phrase "float a scheme", which is very common in news reports. Always think about real usage in newspapers and official documents when dealing with questions on public administration vocabulary.

Final Answer:
The correct verb to complete the sentence is floated.