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GATE 2025 IN GA Q.1: solution and answer

GATE 2025 · INGA Q.1 · 1 mark · MCQ

Despite his initial hesitation, Rehman’s _________ to contribute to the success of the project never wavered.

Select the most appropriate option to complete the above sentence.

  1. (A)

    ambivalence

  2. (B)

    satisfaction

  3. (C)

    resolve

  4. (D)

    revolve

See the question in the paper
GATE 2025 IN GA question 1Tap to open full size

Answer and solution

ANSWER

(C) resolve. As a noun it means firm determination, it contrasts with "initial hesitation", and it fits both "to contribute" and "never wavered".

Official answer: CSource: Official answer key, GATE 2025 IN (IIT Roorkee)

  1. Start with the clue words. "Despite" sets up a contrast with "initial hesitation", and "never wavered" says the missing quality stayed firm. So the blank needs a noun meaning firm determination, the opposite of hesitation.

  2. An infinitive follows the blank ("______ to contribute"), so the noun must be one that naturally takes "to + verb", as in "resolve to do something" or "determination to do something".

  3. (A) ambivalence means mixed feelings or uncertainty. That is close to hesitation, so it cancels the contrast that "Despite" sets up. Uncertainty is also not something that "never wavered".

  4. (B) satisfaction means contentment with something already done. It does not express an intention "to contribute", and it has no link to overcoming hesitation.

  5. (D) revolve is a verb meaning to turn around a centre. After the possessive "Rehman’s" the sentence needs a noun, so grammar rules it out. "Revolve" is only a look-alike of "resolve".

  6. (C) resolve, used as a noun, means firm determination to do something. "Rehman’s resolve to contribute … never wavered" is grammatical, contrasts properly with "initial hesitation", and fits "never wavered". Answer: (C).

KEY IDEA

Let the contrast signal and the grammar make the choice. "Despite ... hesitation" plus "never wavered" asks for firm determination. The possessive "Rehman’s" in front and the infinitive "to contribute" after both call for a noun that takes "to + verb", and "resolve" (noun) is the only option that works.

WATCH OUT FOR

Picking "revolve" because it looks like "resolve" (it is a verb and means turning around a centre), or picking "ambivalence" because it sounds sophisticated. Ambivalence means about the same as hesitation, so it wipes out the contrast that "Despite" sets up.

From the GATE 2025 IN paper. Every question of this paper · Download the full paper · All 32 Grammar & vocabulary questions, with notes

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