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Question

Directions : The following items have one part of a sentence followed by four alternatives. Complete the sentence by choosing the correct alternative and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.

It is not that I do not take a decision, 

This question was previously asked in
CDS I 2022 English Previous Year Paper (10-April-2022)
The correct answer is I decide not to take a decision.

Understanding Sentence Completion Exercises

The question asks us to find the best way to complete the given sentence fragment:

"It is not that I do not take a decision, "

We need to choose from the provided alternatives to create a logical and grammatically sound complete sentence.

Analyzing the Correct Alternative

The correct alternative provided is:

"I decide not to take a decision."

Let's put the fragment and this alternative together:

"It is not that I do not take a decision, I decide not to take a decision."

Explanation of the Sentence Meaning

The first part of the sentence, "It is not that I do not take a decision," contains a double negative which means "It is not true that I never take decisions." In simpler terms, it means "I do take decisions."

The sentence structure "It is not that X, Y" is commonly used to correct a potential misunderstanding. It implies, "It is not true that X is the case; rather, Y is the case."

So, the sentence could be interpreted as: "It is not true that I am incapable of taking decisions or never make them; rather, I sometimes make a deliberate choice *not* to make a decision in a specific situation."

The phrase "I decide not to take a decision" shows an active choice to refrain from deciding, which provides a meaningful contrast or clarification to the initial statement that the speaker *does* take decisions.

This option provides a logical continuation that explains a specific aspect of the speaker's decision-making process – they do take decisions, but sometimes they actively choose *not* to.

Evaluating Other Options

  • Option 2: I do not decide a decision. This phrase is grammatically incorrect and doesn't make sense in English. The correct verb to use with "decision" is usually "make" or "take."
  • Option 3: I had not taken a decision. This option uses the past perfect tense ("had not taken"). The first part of the sentence "It is not that I do not take..." uses the present simple tense. Using a past perfect tense here creates a tense mismatch and generally disrupts the logical flow unless there's a clear reason for a tense shift relating to different time frames, which isn't indicated here.
  • Option 4: I decide I would not have taken a decision. This is a convoluted and grammatically complex structure involving a past conditional ("would not have taken"). It doesn't logically complete the initial statement about the speaker's general approach to decision-making in the present.

Conclusion

Comparing all options, "I decide not to take a decision" is the only alternative that fits grammatically and creates a coherent, meaningful sentence that logically follows the structure and meaning of the initial fragment "It is not that I do not take a decision,".

Revision Table: Sentence Completion Analysis

Sentence Fragment Correct Completion Completed Sentence Meaning
It is not that I do not take a decision I decide not to take a decision It is not true that I never make decisions; rather, I sometimes choose not to make a decision.

Additional Information: Sentence Completion Strategy

Successfully tackling sentence completion questions involves:

  • Reading the sentence fragment carefully to understand its core idea and grammatical hints.
  • Considering each option to see how it sounds and if it makes grammatical sense when added to the fragment.
  • Checking for logical consistency and meaning across the entire completed sentence.
  • Paying attention to verb tenses, subject-verb agreement, and pronoun references.
  • Eliminating options that are clearly ungrammatical or illogical.
  • Choosing the option that creates the most natural-sounding and meaningful sentence.

These questions assess your ability to understand sentence structure, meaning, and appropriate word choice.

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