Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word: Three Indian ad agencies have __________ awards at the international competition.

Introduction / Context:
This question tests vocabulary and the ability to choose a verb that collocates naturally with awards in journalistic English. The sentence describes the achievement of Indian advertising agencies in an international competition. In news reports and headlines, certain informal verbs like bagged are often used to express the idea of winning awards. The task is to select the verb that sounds most natural in such a context.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Sentence: Three Indian ad agencies have __________ awards at the international competition.
• Options: obtained, attained, bagged, procured.
• The verb must suit both meaning and common usage with the noun awards.
• The tone is semi formal, resembling news language.

Concept / Approach:
All four verbs relate to getting something, but they differ in nuance and typical collocations. Bagged is a colloquial yet widely accepted verb in media language meaning won or secured, especially in the context of awards, prizes, or seats. Obtained is neutral and often used for documents or permission. Attained is used for levels, ranks, or goals, such as attained success. Procured often implies effortful or special acquisition, sometimes of goods or services. In sports and culture reporting, we regularly read sentences like The film bagged three national awards. Thus bagged is the most idiomatic choice here.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Understand that the sentence is celebrating success in a competition, so the missing verb should mean won. Step 2: Test option a, obtained. While technically possible, it sounds bureaucratic rather than celebratory when used with awards. Step 3: Test option b, attained. This is used for achieving levels or statuses, such as attained mastery, and is not the usual collocation with awards. Step 4: Test option c, bagged. This is a lively verb commonly used in newspaper reports for winning awards, medals, or seats. Step 5: Test option d, procured. This suggests buying or acquiring something, often with some difficulty, but not normally applied to awards. Step 6: Conclude that bagged is the best and most idiomatic choice.

Verification / Alternative check:
Imagine reading a news headline: Indian ad agencies bag nine awards at global festival. This is a very natural and common usage. Replacing bagged with obtained or procured would make the headline sound stiff or odd. Attained awards is almost never seen in real reporting. Checking a few memory examples from newspapers in your mind will confirm that bagged is the standard journalistic verb used when organisations win awards.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
obtained: Grammatically possible but stylistically flat; does not match the enthusiastic tone normally associated with awards.
attained: Usually used with goals, ranks, or states rather than concrete objects like awards.
procured: Implies obtaining something through effortful arrangement or purchase, which is not how awards are described.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes avoid slightly informal verbs like bagged in favour of more formal ones, assuming that only formal words are correct in exams. However, high frequency media collocations are often tested directly. To improve, candidates should regularly read English newspapers and note which verbs occur with which nouns, for example, win or bag an award, clinch a title, secure a deal, or obtain permission.

Final Answer:
The correct verb is bagged, so option c is correct.