Each of the following items in this section has a sentence with a blank space and four words or groups of words given after the sentence. Select the most appropriate option for the blank space and indicate your response in the Answer Sheet accordingly. He _______to listen to my arguments and walked away.
refused
Understanding the Sentence Completion Question
The question asks us to choose the most appropriate word to fill in the blank space in the sentence: "He _______ to listen to my arguments and walked away." We need to select the word that makes the sentence grammatically correct and logically complete, considering the context provided by the phrase "to listen to my arguments and walked away."
Analyzing the Options for Sentence Completion
Let's examine each given option and see how well it fits into the sentence:
- Denied: The verb "deny" typically means to state that something is not true, or to refuse to admit or accept something. It is usually followed by a noun phrase or a clause. For example, "He denied the accusation." Using "denied" before an infinitive like "to listen" is generally not grammatically standard in this context. "He denied to listen" doesn't convey the intended meaning of unwillingness.
- Disliked: The verb "dislike" means to feel aversion to something. It is usually followed by a noun phrase or a gerund (-ing form). For example, "He disliked spinach" or "He disliked listening to her." While the person might dislike listening, "He disliked to listen" is not the correct grammatical form. More importantly, "disliked" simply states a feeling, not a specific action of unwillingness to listen at that moment, which is implied by "walked away."
- Prevented: The verb "prevent" means to stop something from happening or someone from doing something. It is typically used in structures like "prevent someone from doing something" or "prevent something." For example, "He prevented me from leaving." Using "prevented" directly before "to listen" ("He prevented to listen") is grammatically incorrect and does not make sense in the context of his own action followed by walking away.
- Refused: The verb "refuse" means to indicate that one is unwilling to do something. It is commonly followed by an infinitive with "to." For example, "He refused to eat" or "She refused to help." This word perfectly fits both the grammatical structure (followed by "to listen") and the meaning. It implies a deliberate choice not to listen, which logically leads to him walking away from the situation.
Evaluating the Best Fit
Comparing the options, "refused" is the only word that fits both grammatically and contextually. The structure "refuse + infinitive" is correct English, and the meaning of "refused to listen" strongly supports the subsequent action of "walked away." The other options either do not fit grammatically or do not convey the appropriate meaning of a direct unwillingness to engage in the action of listening in that moment.
| Option | Grammatical Fit (with 'to listen') | Meaning in Context |
|---|---|---|
| denied | Poor | Doesn't fit the intended meaning of unwillingness to perform an action. |
| disliked | Incorrect form ('disliked listening' is correct) | States a preference, not a decision not to listen in the moment. |
| prevented | Incorrect form ('prevented from listening' is correct) | Doesn't describe his own action of not listening. |
| refused | Excellent | Means showed unwillingness to listen, consistent with walking away. |
Therefore, the most appropriate word to complete the sentence "He _______ to listen to my arguments and walked away" is "refused".
Revision Table: Key Vocabulary Differences
| Word | Typical Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Deny | To state something is untrue; refuse to admit/accept. Often followed by noun or clause. | She denied the allegations. He denied that he was there. |
| Dislike | To have an aversion to. Followed by noun or gerund (-ing form). | I dislike onions. They dislike waiting. |
| Prevent | To stop something from happening or someone from doing something. Followed by object + from + gerund, or just the thing being prevented. | The rain prevented us from going out. The barrier prevented access. |
| Refuse | To indicate unwillingness to do something. Often followed by infinitive with 'to'. | He refused to help. She refused the offer. |
Additional Information: Verbs Followed by Infinitives
Many verbs in English are followed directly by an infinitive with "to" to indicate a planned action or a decision. The verb "refuse" is a common example of such a verb. Understanding which verbs take an infinitive helps in correctly completing sentences like the one in the question.
Examples of other verbs followed by an infinitive:
- Agree (e.g., They agreed to meet.)
- Decide (e.g., We decided to stay.)
- Hope (e.g., I hope to see you soon.)
- Plan (e.g., She plans to travel.)
- Promise (e.g., He promised to be quiet.)
- Want (e.g., They want to leave.)
Recognizing these patterns is crucial for mastering English grammar and sentence structure.
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