Question:
Fill in the blank with the correct word:
The ________ lady followed the sacrosanct rituals with full devotion.
Fill in the blank with the correct word:
The ________ lady followed the sacrosanct rituals with full devotion.
The ________ lady followed the sacrosanct rituals with full devotion.
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Vocabulary harmony:
Pious (devout/holy) directly pairs with sacrosanct (sacred) and devotion.
Pious (devout/holy) directly pairs with sacrosanct (sacred) and devotion.
Updated On: Sep 4, 2026
- pious
- devious
- sacrilegious
- careless
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The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Concept:
This question tests semantic congruity and tone alignment in descriptive prose. When qualifying a subject who adheres strictly to sacred religious observances (“followed the sacrosanct rituals with full devotion”), the attributive adjective must harmonize with reverence, spiritual piety, and devout faith. Adjectives denoting deceit, irreverence, or negligence produce severe semantic contradictions.
Step 1: Detailed Lexical Breakdown of the Options:
- (A) Pious: Devoutly religious; showing dutiful reverence, deep devotion, and respect for God or sacred religious observances. Perfectly harmonizes with “followed sacrosanct rituals with full devotion”.
- (B) Devious: Showing a skillful use of underhanded or dishonest tactics to achieve goals; deceitful.
- (C) Sacrilegious: Involving or characterized by sacrilege; having a profound lack of respect for sacred things or profaning holy objects. This is the direct opposite of devoted ritual observance.
- (D) Careless: Not giving sufficient attention or thought; negligent. Directly contradicts the phrase “with full devotion”.
Step 2: Contextual Application:
A person who performs “sacrosanct rituals with full devotion” is by definition devout and reverent, which is the exact definition of pious.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct word to fill in the blank is “pious”, which matches Option (A).
This question tests semantic congruity and tone alignment in descriptive prose. When qualifying a subject who adheres strictly to sacred religious observances (“followed the sacrosanct rituals with full devotion”), the attributive adjective must harmonize with reverence, spiritual piety, and devout faith. Adjectives denoting deceit, irreverence, or negligence produce severe semantic contradictions.
Step 1: Detailed Lexical Breakdown of the Options:
- (A) Pious: Devoutly religious; showing dutiful reverence, deep devotion, and respect for God or sacred religious observances. Perfectly harmonizes with “followed sacrosanct rituals with full devotion”.
- (B) Devious: Showing a skillful use of underhanded or dishonest tactics to achieve goals; deceitful.
- (C) Sacrilegious: Involving or characterized by sacrilege; having a profound lack of respect for sacred things or profaning holy objects. This is the direct opposite of devoted ritual observance.
- (D) Careless: Not giving sufficient attention or thought; negligent. Directly contradicts the phrase “with full devotion”.
Step 2: Contextual Application:
A person who performs “sacrosanct rituals with full devotion” is by definition devout and reverent, which is the exact definition of pious.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct word to fill in the blank is “pious”, which matches Option (A).
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