Idioms – Choose the option that best explains the highlighted expression. Sentence: The question of abolition of private property is still a “moot point.”
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Aundecided
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Buncertain
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Cunknown
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Dnot clear
Answer
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Concept / Approach:Although in some American legal contexts “moot” can mean “irrelevant” or “no longer applicable,” the competitive exam sense aligns with “debatable/undecided.”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