Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Gust
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This one word substitution question tests your knowledge of specific nouns used to describe natural phenomena, in this case a sudden, strong movement of air. Knowing precise words like 'gust', 'breeze' or 'gale' helps in descriptive writing and also frequently appears in general English sections of competitive exams.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Phrase to replace: 'A strong blast of wind.'
- Options: 'Implosion', 'Trickle', 'Gust', 'Mantle'.
- Exactly one option should refer to a sudden, strong burst of wind.
Concept / Approach:
The correct term for a sudden, short burst or blast of wind is 'gust'. Weather reports and everyday speech use phrases like 'a gust of wind' or 'strong gusts are expected'. The other options have very different meanings: 'implosion' is a violent collapse inward, 'trickle' is a small, slow flow of liquid, and 'mantle' refers to a cloak, covering or a layer around something. None of these describe a burst of air.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the key idea in the phrase: a strong, brief blast or rush of wind.
Step 2: Consider 'Implosion': this refers to something collapsing inward, often used in physics or engineering, not to moving air.
Step 3: Consider 'Trickle': this means a small, thin flow of liquid, such as water, moving slowly.
Step 4: Consider 'Gust': this noun means a sudden, strong rush of wind.
Step 5: Consider 'Mantle': this refers to a cloak or covering, or the layer inside the Earth; it has nothing to do with blasts of wind.
Verification / Alternative check:
Use each option in a sample sentence: 'A strong gust of wind blew the papers away' is a natural, common expression. 'A strong implosion of wind' or 'a strong trickle of wind' sound wrong and unnatural. 'A strong mantle of wind' also makes no sense. Therefore, 'gust' is the only word that can correctly and idiomatically replace 'a strong blast of wind' in normal English usage.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
'Implosion' is wrong because it focuses on inward collapse, not outward movement of air. 'Trickle' is wrong because it describes a thin, weak flow, usually of liquid, and does not match the strength and suddenness of a blast. 'Mantle' is wrong because it refers to coverings or layers and is not linked to wind or air pressure in this context.
Common Pitfalls:
Sometimes candidates may be attracted to longer or more technical sounding words like 'implosion' because they seem more impressive. However, one word substitution questions often use simple, everyday terms like 'gust'. The safest method is always to think of actual, real life sentences you have seen or heard, such as in weather reports or stories, and then choose the word that naturally fits those sentences.
Final Answer:
The correct one word substitute for 'a strong blast of wind' is Gust.
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