Idioms – Choose the option that best explains the highlighted expression. Sentence: The question of abolition of private property is still a “moot point.”

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: undecided

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
“Moot point” in general exam English and British/Indian usage means a point that is debatable, open, or not yet decided. In the sentence, the policy question remains unresolved, hence still under debate. We need the best single-word match for this sense of ongoing deliberation.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Phrase: “moot point.”
  • Context: public policy debate.
  • We seek a synonym indicating unresolved status.


Concept / Approach:
Although in some American legal contexts “moot” can mean “irrelevant” or “no longer applicable,” the competitive exam sense aligns with “debatable/undecided.” Among the options, “undecided” is the most direct and widely accepted paraphrase in this register.


Step-by-Step Solution:

Determine register: general English/Indian-British usage → debatable/undecided.Match to option: “undecided.”Eliminate near-synonyms that are vague or off-sense: “uncertain,” “not clear,” and “unknown.”Confirm via common collocations: “remains a moot point” ≈ “remains undecided.”


Verification / Alternative check:
Substitute: “is still an undecided point.” This reads naturally and preserves the intended meaning across exam contexts.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • uncertain / not clear: Vague; do not specifically connote ongoing debate.
  • unknown: Means not known, which is different from being debated.


Common Pitfalls:
Applying the American-legal sense (“no longer relevant”) universally. Exams typically intend “debatable/undecided.”


Final Answer:
undecided

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