Question

The discovery of a second set of fingerprints_ _ _ _ _ weight to the theory that the thief did not act alone.
A. Owes
B. Pays
C. Lends
D. Invests

Answer 1

Hint: The given sentence is about a piece of information that provides for the theory that the thief did not act alone. A verb is missing, that needs to be chosen from these options. The word should comply with 'weight' as it's a phrasal verb, it's incomplete in meaning without the verb.

Complete answer:
Option A) Owes – This option is not correct because Owes' does not comply with 'weight', these two don't go together to provide a meaning. Weight cannot be owed; it does not provide any meaning to the sentence. Hence this option can be eliminated.

Option B) Pays – This option is not correct because pays don't form phrasal verbs with 'weight', 'pays weight' does not provide the necessary meaning. Hence this option is incorrect.

Option C) Lends – This option is correct because Lends weight' means 'to make an opinion seem more likely to be correct', it matches the sentence, as the theory seems more correct due to "the discovery of a second set of fingerprints". The discovery 'lends' weight, adds weight, or importance to the theory, hence option C is correct

Option D) Invests - This option is incorrect because 'invests' also don't form phrasal verbs with 'weight’, ‘invests weight' does not provide the necessary meaning. Hence this option is incorrect.

Hence the correct answer is option ‘C’.

Note:All the options act as plausible distractions so one should choose options carefully. ‘Owes weight’ ‘pays weight' and 'invests weight' does not provide the necessary meaning, as 'lends weight' does, hence options A, B ,and D are incorrect.