CAT 2022 Slot 1 — VARC Question 19
There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide in which blank (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.
Sentence: Easing the anxiety and pressure of having a “big day” is part of the appeal for many couples who marry in secret.
Paragraph: Wedding season is upon us and – after two years of Covid chaos that saw nuptials scaled back– you may think the temptation would be to go all out. ___(1)___. But instead of expanding the guest list, many couples are opting to have entirely secret ceremonies. With Covid case numbers remaining high and the cost of living crisis meaning that many couples are feeling the pinch, it’s no wonder that some are less than eager to send out invites. ___(2)___. Plus, it can’t hurt that in celebrity circles getting married in secret is all the rage. ___(3)___. “I would definitely say that secret weddings are becoming more common,” says Landis Bejar, the founder of a therapy practice, which specialises in helping brides and grooms manage wedding stress. “People are looking for ways to get out of the spotlight and avoid the pomp and circumstance of weddings. ___(4)___. They just want to get to the part where they are married.”
Answer & solution
- A
Option 1
Option 2
- C
Option 3
- D
Option 4
Easy
Sentence-insertion. The loose sentence gives a reason couples marry in secret — "easing the anxiety and pressure of having a big day." Slot it where the flow needs a reason and the surrounding cues agree.
Theme: couples are choosing secret weddings instead of going all out.
Blank (1): too early. At this point the paragraph hasn't yet introduced secret weddings — the "but instead... secret ceremonies" turn comes right after. A reason for secret weddings would jump ahead. Misfit.
Blank (2): the sentence right after starts with "Plus, it can't hurt that... getting married in secret is all the rage." "Plus" signals an additional reason — so a first reason must sit just before it. The loose sentence (easing big-day pressure) is exactly that first reason. Perfect fit.
Blank (3): sits between the celebrity point and Bejar's quote; no need for a "pressure" reason here. Misfit.
Blank (4): falls inside Bejar's continuous quotation about avoiding the spotlight; inserting the authorial sentence breaks the quote. Misfit.
Option 2 — the "Plus..." that follows needs a prior reason, which this sentence supplies.