In the following sentence, a blank has to be filled with the most appropriate word: “With his political _____________, the Party President deftly handled the rebellion.” Choose the option that best completes the sentence in correct and meaningful English.

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: sagacity

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question tests vocabulary and your ability to choose a word that fits both grammatically and logically in a sentence. The sentence talks about a Party President who handled a rebellion deftly. The blank is qualified by the adjective “political”, which suggests that the missing word should relate to qualities helpful in political life, such as wisdom, insight, or understanding of human behaviour and strategy.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The sentence is “With his political _____________, the Party President deftly handled the rebellion.”
  • The options are “temperament”, “sagacity”, “attitude”, and “inexperience”.
  • “Deftly handled” suggests skill, wisdom, and competence.


Concept / Approach:
The phrase “political sagacity” is a standard expression meaning political wisdom, shrewdness, and sound judgment. It fits perfectly with the idea of deftly handling a rebellion. “Temperament” and “attitude” describe general personality or outlook but do not specifically convey the idea of wise judgment. “Inexperience” directly contradicts the positive outcome implied by “deftly handled”. Therefore, “sagacity” is the most appropriate choice.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Understand the context: the Party President is dealing successfully with a difficult political situation, a rebellion. Step 2: Consider “temperament”. This means the natural character or mood of a person. “Political temperament” is possible but does not directly indicate the skill required to “deftly handle” a rebellion. Step 3: Look at “sagacity”. This noun means keen mental discernment and good judgment, especially in practical matters. “Political sagacity” suggests wise political judgment, which matches the context very well. Step 4: Examine “attitude”. It refers to a settled way of thinking or feeling. While “political attitude” is grammatically possible, it does not explain the success in handling the rebellion. Step 5: Check “inexperience”. This refers to lack of experience, which would normally make it harder, not easier, to manage a rebellion deftly. Step 6: Conclude that “sagacity” best completes the sentence by highlighting the President’s wise political judgment.


Verification / Alternative check:
Rewriting the sentence with the chosen word: “With his political sagacity, the Party President deftly handled the rebellion.” This reads smoothly and is a natural collocation in political commentary. It clearly attributes the skilful handling of the crisis to his wisdom and judgment, which supports the context provided by the rest of the sentence.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • temperament: Indicates emotional or mental nature, but not necessarily wise strategic thinking.
  • attitude: Describes a general viewpoint but does not directly relate to skilful crisis management.
  • inexperience: Suggests lack of skill or practice, which contradicts the positive phrase “deftly handled”.


Common Pitfalls:
Students may be tempted by words that fit grammatically without checking whether they fit the deeper meaning. Always connect the blank to the clue words in the sentence, such as “deftly handled” here, which strongly suggests competence and wisdom. Recognising standard collocations like “political sagacity” helps you answer quickly and confidently.


Final Answer:
The correct word to fill the blank is sagacity, giving “With his political sagacity, the Party President deftly handled the rebellion.”

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