Although they took every precaution, they could not ________ the accident.
- (a)defer
- (b)allow
- (c)avoid
- (d)block
Correct — C, 'avoid'. 'Although they took every precaution' sets up a concession — the precautions were meant to keep the accident from happening, and they failed. 'Avoid' is the verb for keeping something unwanted from occurring, and an accident is exactly the kind of object it takes.
- (a)defer — 'Defer' means to postpone to a later date, which would absurdly suggest that the accident was merely rescheduled.
- (b)allow — 'Allow' reverses the sense — nobody takes precautions so that an accident may be permitted.
- (d)block — 'Block' means to obstruct a path or a flow, so it suits a road or a pipe rather than an event.
A concessive opening with 'although' guarantees that the main clause reports a failure, and the verb chosen must be one that an accident can be the object of.
The grammar of the sentence is satisfied by all four verbs, so collocation and the logic imposed by 'although' have to decide. Precautions aim at prevention, which means the failed aim must be stated with a verb of prevention.
- 'Avoid' takes a noun or an -ing form as its object — avoid an accident, avoid making mistakes.
- 'Defer' means to put something off until later.
- 'Although' introduces a concession, so the main clause states the contrary outcome.
- Choosing 'block', which is physically vivid but wrong for an event.
- Missing that 'although' demands a failure in the main clause.
Asked as a selecting-words item — pick the verb that fits the blank.
No directly related past PYQ was found.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The committee decided to ________ the meeting until next month.
- (a)avoid
- (b)defer
- (c)block
- (d)allow
Answer(b) defer — 'defer' means to postpone to a later date.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Careful driving helps you ________ accidents.
- (a)defer
- (b)allow
- (c)avoid
- (d)block
Answer(c) avoid — 'avoid' means to keep something unwanted from happening.