Question

Select the most appropriate set of words from the given choices to fill in the blanks
The high cutoff marks this year have ___ college admission seekers to either ___ for lesser known colleges or change their subject preferences

• A. cajoled, ask
• B. pressured, sit
• C. forced, settle
• D. strained, compromise

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1 — Read the sentence carefully:
"The high cutoff marks this year have ___ college admission seekers to either ___ for lesser known colleges or change their subject preferences."
We need two words that explain the effect of high cutoff marks on students and their choices.

Step 2 — Analyze the first blank:
The high cutoff marks would put pressure on admission seekers, leaving them with little choice. The correct word here is forced, as it indicates compulsion due to difficult circumstances.

Step 3 — Analyze the second blank:
If students cannot get into top colleges, they would have to compromise by choosing lesser known colleges. The correct word here is settle, which means to accept something less desirable when the preferred option is unavailable.

Step 4 — Fit the words into the sentence:
"The high cutoff marks this year have forced college admission seekers to either settle for lesser known colleges or change their subject preferences."
This sentence is logical and conveys the intended meaning clearly.

Final Answer:
The correct option is (C) : forced, settle.