GATE CS 2014 Set 1 — Question 2

MCQ+1 / -0.33EasyVocabulary (Words, Idioms, Phrases in Context)Verbal AptitudeGeneral Aptitude

General Aptitude → Verbal Aptitude → Vocabulary (Words, Idioms, Phrases in Context)

Last updated 5 September 2026

Question

Choose the most appropriate word from the options given below to complete the following sentence. He could not understand the judges awarding her the first prize, because he thought that her performance was quite__________.

Correct answer (C) mediocre Solution The sentence implies a contrast: he could not understand why she won, which means he must have thought her performance was not good. "Mediocre" means of only moderate quality; not very good. This fits the context. "Superb" and "exhilarating" are positive adjectives which would justify the prize. "Medium" is typically used for size or state, not quality of performance. Turn this into a strength. Explore AI-powered practice and doubt support with Success Tracker.

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Correct answer (C) mediocre Solution The sentence implies a contrast: he could not understand why she won, which means he must have thought her performance was not good. "Mediocre" means of only moderate quality; not very good. This fits the context. "Superb" and "exhilarating" are positive adjectives which would justify the prize. "Medium" is typically used for size or state, not quality of performance.

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