Q67
1 markFill in the BlankSection A

Fill in the blank with a suitable word given in brackets : Infrastructure limitations _ (impedes/spurs) digital adoption.

Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passage)
Reading Comprehension — Unseen Passage (Digital Divide)
Official Answer

impedes — a 'limitation' (shortage of infrastructure) can only hinder, not encourage, digital adoption.

impedesinfrastructuredigital adoptionhinderobstructdigital divide

Marking Scheme

  • 11 mark: correct word 'impedes' selected and written exactly as given in the bracket (accept 'impede' only if subject-verb agreement is separately addressed; standalone blank credited for 'impedes').

Hint

Ask which word logically pairs with 'limitations' — something that hinders or something that helps?

Quick Oral Answer

The correct word is 'impedes' because infrastructure limitations can only hold back or obstruct digital adoption, not encourage it — 'spurs' would contradict the meaning of 'limitations'.

Analysis & Explanation

The subject 'infrastructure limitations' can only hinder progress, never accelerate it — that logic alone decides the answer.


Concept

  • 'Impedes' = obstructs/slows down; 'spurs' = encourages/speeds up — the two options are near-antonyms.
  • The choice depends on subject–verb–object logic, not grammar rules.

Key Points

  • A limitation (shortage of infrastructure) logically impedes — it cannot logically spur — digital adoption.
  • Mentally substitute each option and test which reading makes real-world sense.

Common Mistakes

  • Picking 'spurs' because it sounds more positive/progressive, without checking meaning against the subject 'limitations'.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1Choosing 'spurs' because it is a less common/more attractive-sounding word, without checking logical sense.
  2. 2Not checking subject-verb agreement (singular 'limitations' needs 'impede' in some contexts, but the bracket format usually expects the exact word given).

Interesting Facts

India's digital divide is closely tied to infrastructure: as of recent telecom data, rural broadband penetration lags urban penetration by a wide margin, illustrating exactly the kind of 'infrastructure limitation' this passage refers to.

The word 'impede' comes from Latin 'impedire' meaning 'to entangle the feet' — literally to shackle or trap the feet, which is why it means to obstruct progress.

Spotted a mistake or something unclear?

Tell us — we fix reported answers fast.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is 'spurs' incorrect here?

'Spurs' means to encourage or speed something up, which contradicts the meaning of 'limitations' — a shortage or lack cannot encourage adoption, only hinder it.

Is this testing grammar or vocabulary?

Primarily vocabulary-in-context: understanding the meaning of both options and choosing the one that fits logically with the rest of the sentence.