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Question

Directions : Each of the following sentences in this section has a blank space and four words or group of words are given after the sentence. Select the most appropriate word or group of words for the blank space and indicate your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.

What you propose is _____________ .

This question was previously asked in
CDS I 2022 English Previous Year Paper (10-April-2022)
The correct answer is

out of the question

Understanding English Idioms for Sentence Completion

This question asks us to choose the most appropriate phrase to complete the sentence "What you propose is _____________." We need to look at the options and see which one fits grammatically and semantically to make a meaningful sentence.

Analyzing the Options

Let's examine each phrase provided as an option:

  • Option 1: on question - The phrase "on question" is not a standard English idiom or phrase used in this context to describe something that is being proposed. It doesn't convey a clear meaning related to the status of the proposal.
  • Option 2: in question - The phrase "in question" means something that is being discussed, doubted, or disputed. While a proposal can be "in question" (e.g., "The proposal is still in question"), placing it after "What you propose is..." doesn't sound grammatically natural and usually implies that the proposal itself is the subject of doubt or discussion, not that it is the doubt or discussion. For example, you might say "The identity of the person in question is unknown" or "The decision is in question".
  • Option 3: where the question - This is not a complete phrase that can logically follow "What you propose is". It sounds like the beginning of a clause, but doesn't form a coherent ending for the sentence.
  • Option 4: out of the question - This is a common English idiom. The phrase "out of the question" means that something is impossible, not allowed, or not worth considering.

Why "out of the question" is the Correct Choice

The idiom "out of the question" is used to indicate that a suggestion, proposal, or possibility is completely unacceptable or impossible. When someone says "What you propose is out of the question," they mean that the proposal is not going to happen or cannot be accepted.

Let's see how it fits the sentence:

"What you propose is out of the question."

This sentence means "Your proposal is impossible" or "Your proposal cannot be accepted." This makes perfect sense in English and is a common way to reject a proposal emphatically.

Comparing Phrases

Here is a quick comparison of the meanings of the relevant phrases:

Phrase Common Meaning/Usage Fits the sentence "What you propose is..."?
on question Not a standard idiom in this context. No
in question Being discussed, doubted, or disputed. (e.g., "The topic in question") Unlikely and grammatically awkward in this specific structure.
where the question Incomplete clause beginning. No
out of the question Impossible, not allowed, not worth considering. Yes

Based on the meanings and standard usage of these phrases, "out of the question" is the only one that correctly completes the sentence to form a common and meaningful expression in English.

Revision Table: Key English Idioms

Idiom/Phrase Meaning Example Sentence
In question Being discussed, doubted, or disputed. His honesty is in question.
Out of the question Impossible, not allowed, not worth considering. Going on vacation now is out of the question due to work.

Additional Information: Learning English Phrases

Learning common English idioms and phrases is very important for improving your vocabulary and understanding natural English. Phrases like "out of the question" have specific meanings that might not be obvious from the individual words.

When you encounter a sentence completion question with idioms or phrases, try the following steps:

  • Read the sentence carefully to understand its overall meaning.
  • Look at the options and see if you recognize any common idioms or phrases.
  • Consider the meaning of each option and how it would change the meaning of the sentence if inserted into the blank.
  • Choose the option that makes the sentence grammatically correct and logically sound.
  • If unsure about an idiom, try to recall if you have heard or seen it used in a specific context before.

Practicing with different types of sentence completion exercises will help you become more familiar with a variety of English phrases and their correct usage in different contexts.

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