A negative blank — Aptitude Question
A negative blank: Fill in the blank: The manager's ______ manner discouraged the staff from raising concerns. Answer and worked solution on CodeKairo.
- Topic: Fill in the Blanks & Para Jumbles
- Section: Verbal Ability
- Difficulty: Medium
- Time target: 55 seconds
Question
Fill in the blank:
The manager's ______ manner discouraged the staff from raising concerns.
Options
- approachable
- brusque
- cheerful
- patient
Show the answer and the worked solution
Correct answer: B. brusque
Worked solution
- Staff were discouraged, so the manner must have been off-putting.
- Brusque means abrupt and curt.
- Approachable, cheerful and patient would all encourage people instead.
Answer: brusque.
The idea
Work out whether the blank needs a positive or a negative word first. That alone often leaves only one candidate.
Shortcut. Knowing 'brusque' is not needed: approachable, cheerful and patient are all qualities that would invite concerns, so each fails and elimination leaves brusque (curt, abrupt).
Common trap. "patient" — the least warm of the three positive words, so it can pass for reserved or distant, but a patient manager would encourage staff to speak up, not discourage them.
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