CAT 2022 Slot 1 · VARC · Question 1

CAT 2022 Slot 1 previous year question on Sentence Completion and Insertion, with the answer and a step-by-step solution.

Sentence Completion and InsertionVerbal AbilityMultiple choiceMedium

There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide in which blank (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.

Sentence: Easing the anxiety and pressure of having a “big day” is part of the appeal for many couples who marry in secret.

Paragraph: Wedding season is upon us and - after two years of Covid chaos that saw nuptials scaled back- you may think the temptation would be to go all out. ___(1)___. But instead of expanding the guest list, many couples are opting to have entirely secret ceremonies. With Covid case numbers remaining high and the cost of living crisis meaning that many couples are feeling the pinch, it’s no wonder that some are less than eager to send out invites. ___(2)___. Plus, it can’t hurt that in celebrity circles getting married in secret is all the rage. ___(3)___. “I would definitely say that secret weddings are becoming more common,” says Landis Bejar, the founder of a therapy practice, which specialises in helping brides and grooms manage wedding stress. “People are looking for ways to get out of the spotlight and avoid the pomp and circumstance of weddings. ___(4)___. They just want to get to the part where they are married.”

  1. A

    Option 1

  2. B

    Option 2

  3. C

    Option 3

  4. D

    Option 4

Pick an option, then check.
Answer & solution

Answer: Option B

The sentence gives one reason why couples marry in secret: it eases the anxiety and pressure of a 'big day'.

Blank 2 comes right after other reasons – high Covid numbers and the cost of living, which make couples 'less than eager to send out invites'. The next sentence begins 'Plus, it can't hurt that . . .', which adds yet another reason. So the sentence fits between the two as one more reason.

Blank 1 comes before secret weddings are even mentioned.

Blanks 3 and 4 sit inside or just before the therapist's quotation, where her own words carry the point.

Shortcut: 'Plus' signals the addition of another reason, so the gap before it must hold a reason too.

Hence, the answer is option 2.

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