Question

Defection is an unprincipled practice which can do ___________ damage to the democratic process. (Fill in the blank with the most appropriate option).
A) Incalculable
B) Inalienable
C) Intolerable
D) Infallible
E) Indispensable

Answer 1

Hint: Defection is defined as abandoning one's country or cause. When you are supposed to be serving your country as an army or navy officer, but instead choose to work for the opposing side. Defection is the abandonment of one's country or causes in favour of another.

Complete answer:
Let us analyze the given options:
Option A) Incalculable – the meaning of incalculable is ‘not able to be calculated or estimated or immeasurable or uncountable’. The use of ‘incalculable’ in the blank is the best fit because the loss one country can get because of defection is uncountable and as a result, it will lead to a great loss for the nation. Therefore, this is the correct answer.

Option B) Inalienable – the meaning of ‘inalienable’ is ‘absolute or surrendered or unchallengeable’. This option does not fit well in the blank because the sentence becomes inappropriate. Therefore, this is an incorrect answer.

Option C) Intolerable – the meaning of ‘intolerable’ is ‘unable to be endured or unbearable or insupportable or insufferable’. However, this word does not go well in the blank and the use of this option in the blank will make the sentence inappropriate. Therefore, this is an incorrect answer.

Option D) Infallible – the meaning of ‘infallible’ is ‘incapable of errors or not liable to be misled’. This option does not suit the sentence because as per the sentence, there is nothing to be misled about. Therefore, this is an incorrect answer.

Option E) Indispensable – the meaning of ‘indispensable’ is ‘absolutely necessary or essential or crucial’. As per the sentence in the question, defection is not considered as indispensable. Therefore, we will not include this option in the blank as it changes the complete meaning of the sentence. Therefore, this is an incorrect answer.

Therefore the correct answer is option ‘D’ i.e, Defection is an unprincipled practice that can do incalculable damage to the democratic process.

Note: The damage thus caused to democracy is too great to be estimated, that is, incalculable. Hence, Option A is correct. Among the rest of the options, they do not express the intended meaning. For answering such questions, it is very important to understand the meaning of the words that are given in the sentence and on this basis, we have to choose the correct word that fits best in the blank and give the real meaning of the sentence.