Question:
The abandoned airport project became a _______for the government.
The abandoned airport project became a _______for the government.
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The term "white elephant" comes from an old custom where the King of Siam would give a rare white elephant to courtiers he disliked. The cost of feeding and housing the sacred beast was so high that it would financially ruin the recipient!
Updated On: May 19, 2026
- white elephant
- cortege
- discourse
- brevity
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Verified By Collegedunia
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This sentence context describes a major public infrastructure venture ("airport project") that has been abandoned. For a government, such an idle, expensive asset represents a massive drain on financial resources without providing any practical public utility. The missing vocabulary item must be an idiom that characterizes a burdensome, useless, and costly possession.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let's analyze the definition and suitability of each option: White elephant (Correct): An idiom used to describe a possession that is completely useless, unwanted, or unprofitable, especially one that is extremely expensive to maintain or build. An abandoned infrastructure project fits this description perfectly. Cortege: A solemn procession, especially for a funeral. This is completely irrelevant to an engineering or financial project. Discourse: Written or spoken communication or debate. This does not fit the financial context. Brevity: Concise and exact use of words in writing or speech; shortness of time. This does not make grammatical or contextual sense here. Thus, "white elephant" is the only option that logically describes the government's financial burden.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct idiomatic phrase to fill the blank is option (a).
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