Question

"He often _____ the numbers. False claims are not going to help. Honesty _____ trust", said the manager.
Choose the option with the correct order of words to fill the blanks.

• A. exaggerates; engenders
• B. excels; encourages
• C. aggravates; alleviates
• D. diminishes; eliminates

Hint:

Read the two blanks as linked to "false claims" and to the idea that honesty creates trust; find words that mean "inflating" and "creating".

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

This question checks vocabulary in context. Read the three sentences as one connected thought: the manager is criticizing someone for inflating numbers, then stating a general truth about honesty and trust. Each option pair must fit both blanks and keep the logic of the passage intact.

1. exaggerates; engenders: "He often exaggerates the numbers" means he often makes the numbers sound bigger or more impressive than they really are. This directly matches the next line, "False claims are not going to help", since exaggeration is a form of a false or inflated claim. "Honesty engenders trust" is also correct: engender means to give rise to or produce, and honesty is exactly what produces trust. Both blanks fit.
2. excels; encourages: "Excels" needs a preposition ("excels at" or "excels in"); "He often excels the numbers" is not correct English, so the first blank already fails. "Honesty encourages trust" is at least sensible, but the first blank rules this option out.
3. aggravates; alleviates: Aggravate means to make a bad situation worse, and it does not pair naturally with "the numbers" here. Alleviate means to ease pain or a burden, so "honesty alleviates trust" makes no sense since trust is not a burden to be eased.
4. diminishes; eliminates: "He often diminishes the numbers" would mean he plays the numbers down, which does not connect with the warning that "false claims are not going to help". Also "honesty eliminates trust" reverses the intended meaning: honesty is supposed to build trust, not remove it.

Only "exaggerates; engenders" keeps both blanks logically consistent with the surrounding sentences, so option (A) is correct.

Let's summarize:

• The first blank needs a word describing inflating or overstating numbers, which is exactly what "false claims" refers to.
• The second blank needs a word meaning "creates" or "gives rise to", since honesty is the cause and trust is the effect.

The correct order of words is "exaggerates; engenders", which is option (A).