Only three candidates are now in contention for the title. (Choose the phrase nearest in meaning to the underlined words 'in contention'.)
- (a)involved in dispute
- (b)in agreement with each other
- (c)chance of winning
- (d)amiable to each other
Correct — C, 'chance of winning.' To be 'in contention' for something means to be still competing and to have a realistic chance of winning it. With only three candidates left for the title, they are the ones who could still win, which is exactly what 'chance of winning' captures.
- (a)involved in dispute — This picks up the other sense of 'contention' (a quarrel), but 'in contention for the title' is about competing to win, not arguing.
- (b)in agreement with each other — It means the opposite of competing; candidates for a title are rivals, not partners.
- (d)amiable to each other — It means friendly towards one another — this describes their manner, not their chance of winning the title.
To be 'in contention' for something means to be still in the running and to have a genuine chance of winning it.
No directly related past PYQ was found.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Choose the meaning of 'in contention' in: 'She is in contention for the top prize.'
- (a)no longer competing
- (b)having a chance of winning
- (c)arguing with the judges
- (d)watching from outside
Answer(b) having a chance of winning — 'in contention for' means still competing to win.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Choose the word nearest in meaning to 'contention' in: 'This was a point of contention between them.'
- (a)agreement
- (b)dispute
- (c)friendship
- (d)silence
Answer(b) dispute — here 'contention' means a disagreement, showing the word has two senses depending on context.