16Hit1600
Craft and StructureVery hardWord for silence that fails to stop rumours

Craft and Structure practice question

The minister's silence, rather than ____ the rumours, only fed them: every day without a denial was taken as confirmation.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

  1. A. quellingCorrect
  2. B. spreading
  3. C. confirming
  4. D. inventing

Answer: A. quelling

The opposite of feeding rumours is quelling them.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. spreading
Spreading is what the silence did.
C. confirming
Confirming is close to what happened, not its opposite.
D. inventing
Silence invents nothing.

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