IPMAT Indore 2026 · Verbal Ability · Question 38

Blank 1 — the collocation. “An established Western tradition of reflection” is the idiomatic phrase, and it fits “starting point” — a tradition has a beginning. Habit of reflection is too small; philosophy of reflection is redundant; culture of reflection does not take “established Western” as naturally.

Blank 2 — the kind of damage. Anger responds to damage that matters: significant damage. Wilful is the trap — it describes the manner of inflicting, which the third blank already covers, so using it here is redundant. Universal and consequential both misfit.

Blank 3 — how the damage was inflicted. The angry person believes it was wrongfully inflicted — unjustly. That is the heart of Aristotle’s account: anger is a response to perceived injustice.

erroneously ✗ — means by mistake, which would reduce anger, not cause it

unsuspectingly / uncannily ✗ — neither describes injustice

Answer: Option 2

Shortcut. Blank 3 is the key and the concept is Aristotle’s: anger follows a perceived injustice. Only wrongfully conveys that. Erroneously is its near-twin in sound but means “by mistake” — the opposite of blameworthy.