Question

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom/phrase.
 The pros and cons
(a)Measure the ingredients
(b)Observe etiquette
(c)Consider all facts
(d)Postpone action

Answer 1

Hint: A phrase refers to an expression whose meanings cannot be inferred from the meanings of the words that make it up. For example- ‘be up’ refers to being out of bed.
Complete answer: In the given question, the phrase ‘the pros and cons’ refers to ‘the positive and negative attributes or arguments.’.
Let us thus analyze the options given to us in this question:
(a)'measure the ingredients', refers to ‘how much there is or how many there are of some cooking components’. Therefore, option (a) is incorrect as it is not at all similar to what the definition of ‘the pros and cons’ says.
(b)‘observe etiquette', refers to ‘behave as expected according to rules governing socially acceptable behaviour’. Therefore, option (b) is incorrect as it is not similar to the meaning of ‘the pros and cons’.
(c)‘consider all facts’, refers to ‘take into account all pieces of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred’. Therefore, option (c) is correct as it is synonymous to that of ‘the pros and cons’ definition.
(d)‘postpone action’, refers to ‘hold back to a later time to get something done’. Therefore, option (d) is incorrect as it is not similar to what ‘the pros and cons’ means.
Note: In this type of question, the student must always recall that phrases should not be taken literally, as they seldom mean what the words in the phrase collectively portray to mean.