The correct answer is option 1 i.e. Otologist.

Correct word: Otologist

Meaning: A physician who specializes in ear diseases

Example: The ringing in her ears led her to an otologist.

Meaning of the other words:

• Otolaryngologist: Specialist in ear, nose, and throat

• Endocrinologist: Specialist in hormone-related diseases

• Gerontologist: Studies aging and the elderly

Hence, the chosen option is the correct one word substitution.

The correct answer is option 2 i.e. Boycott

Correct word: Boycott

Meaning: To refuse to buy, use, or take part in something as a form of protest

Example: People decided to boycott the company’s products after the scandal.

Meaning of the other words:

Gesticulate: Use gestures for emphasis

Elope: Run away to get married secretly

Apostrophize: Address someone who is not present

Hence, the chosen option is the correct one word substitution.

The correct answer is option 3 i.e. wait.

Context: India had not won a weightlifting medal for 21 years; hence it indicates a long period of waiting.

Analysis of the given options:

• Pause: A short temporary stop.
• Delay: A postponement, not suitable here.
• Wait: A long period of anticipation (correct).
• Break: Does not fit grammatically with “ended India’s 21-year ___”.

Correct word: wait

Reason: “21-year wait” is a fixed and commonly used expression in sports reporting.

Hence, the chosen option is correct.

The correct answer is option 4 i.e. clinching.

Context: The sentence needs a verb in -ing form to show the manner by which the wait was ended.

Analysis of the given options:

• Clinches: Present tense, incorrect here.
• Clinched: Past tense, breaks sentence flow.
• Clinch: Base form, incorrect structure.
• Clinching: Present participle, fits correctly (correct).

Correct word: clinching

Reason: It correctly follows “by” and explains how the medal was won.

Hence, the chosen option is correct.

The correct answer is option 2 i.e. category.

Context: 49kg refers to a weight class in sports.

Analysis of the given options:

• category- a class or division of people or things regarded as having particular shared characteristics.
• herd- a large number of animals that live and feed together.
• section- one of the parts into which something is divided.
• genre- a particular type or style of literature, art, film or music that you can recognize because of its special characteristics.

Correct word: category

Reason: Weightlifting competitions are divided into weight categories.

Hence, the chosen option is correct.

The correct answer is option 2 i.e. lifted.

Context: The sentence talks about weightlifting totals.

Analysis of the given options:

• lifted- raise to a higher position or level.
• boosted- to increase something in number, value or strength.
• carried- to hold somebody/something in your hand, arms or on your back while you are moving from one place to another.
• thrusted- to push or drive with force.

Correct word: lifted

Reason: Weightlifters “lift” weights; this is the correct sport-specific verb.

Hence, the chosen option is correct.

The correct answer is option 2 i.e. had.

Context: The sentence refers to an event in 2016 (past) and describes a failure that happened before the present achievement being discussed. Past Perfect Tense is used to show an action that was completed before another action in the past.

Analysis of the given options:

• Was: Simple past; does not clearly show prior completion.
• Had: Past perfect auxiliary, correctly shows an earlier past action (correct).
• Has: Present perfect, incorrect with a definite past time (2016).
• Will: Future tense, incorrect.

Correct word: had

Reason: The failure in the 2016 Games happened earlier than the current Olympic success, so past perfect is required.

Hence, the chosen option is correct.

The correct answer is Option 3 i.e. circle of friends, which.

1. The error lies in option 3 because of the wrong use of "Relative Pronoun".
2. We need to replace "Which" with "Who" for making the statement grammatically correct.

Grammatical concept:- 

• A relative pronoun is used to connect a clause or phrase to a noun or pronoun. The clause modifies or describes the noun. The most common relative pronouns are who, whom, whose, which, and that. Sometimes, when and where can be used as relative pronouns as well.
• "Who" is used for a person while "Which" is used for a non-living thing.
• The given statement talks about "Friends" hence, "Who" will be the correct choice here.
• The chosen option contains the Grammatical Error hence, it will be the correct choice.

Correct Sentence:-

His amiable disposition acquired him a large circle of friends, who deeply lament his death.

The correct answer is Option 2 i.e. seemed strange.

1. The error lies in option 2 because of the wrong use of "Adverb".
2. We need to replace "Strange" with "Strangely" for making the statement grammatically correct.

Grammatical concept:- 

• An adverb is a word that modifies (describes) a verb (he sings loudly), an adjective (very tall), another adverb (ended too quickly), or even a whole sentence (Fortunately, I had brought an umbrella).

• Adverbs often end in -ly, but some (such as fast) look exactly the same as their adjective counterparts.

• "Reluctant" is an adjective hence, we need to use an adverb before it.

• The chosen option contains the Grammatical Error hence, it will be the correct choice.

Correct Sentence:-

The committee seemed strangely reluctant to hold the auction. 

The correct answer is Option 1 i.e. thinking rather then on emotion.

1. The error lies in option 1 because of the wrong use of "Preposition".
2. We need to replace "Then" with "Than" for making the statement grammatically correct.

Grammatical concept:- 

• We use rather than to give more importance to one thing when two alternatives or preferences are being compared.

For example:-

He wanted to be an actor rather than a comedian.

Can we come over on Saturday rather than Friday?  

• Rather than usually occurs between two things which are being compared.
• The chosen option contains the Grammatical Error hence, it will be the correct choice.

Correct Sentence:-

A rational person is someone who is sensible and is able to make decisions based on intelligent thinking rather than on emotion.