_______, did you know Ravi has a new job?
- (a)For one thing
- (b)By the way
- (c)In the first place
- (d)As a result
Answer
B
Why
Correct — B, By the way. The speaker is introducing a fresh, unrelated piece of news, and 'By the way' is exactly the marker used to slip in an incidental new topic — 'By the way, did you know Ravi has a new job?'
Why the others are wrong
- (a)For one thing — 'For one thing' introduces the first in a list of reasons or arguments, not a casual new topic.
- (c)In the first place — 'In the first place' also enumerates a first point or reason; it does not signal an aside.
- (d)As a result — 'As a result' marks a consequence, but nothing preceding causes this new question, so it does not fit.
Concept
'By the way' is a topic-shifting discourse marker used to add an incidental remark or new item to a conversation.
Related PYQs
No directly related past PYQ was found.
Practice
- practice — not a real PYQ
Fill in the blank: _______, have you seen my keys anywhere?
- (a)By the way
- (b)As a result
- (c)For one thing
- (d)In conclusion
Answer(a) By the way — introduces an incidental new question.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Which marker enumerates the first of several reasons?
- (a)For one thing
- (b)By the way
- (c)Meanwhile
- (d)In short
Answer(a) For one thing — it opens a list of supporting reasons.