Bola studiously avoided … the questions?

Analyze the question

The sentence is "Bola studiously avoided ....... the questions." We need a word that fits after "avoided" and makes sense with "questions." Studiously means done carefully and deliberately, so Bola was deliberately dodging something to do with the questions.

Explain the concept

• The verb avoid is followed by a gerund (-ing form): avoid doing something.
• The meaning must be logical. Avoiding an action only makes sense if the action is something you would normally be expected to do. With questions, the expected action is answering them.

Check each option

• A. parrying: To parry a question means to deflect or evade it. This sounds close, but "avoided parrying" would mean she avoided evading the questions. That is the opposite of what the "studiously avoided" idea suggests, and it is awkward and illogical.
• B. answering: "Avoided answering the questions" is natural and logical. She deliberately did not give answers.
• C. projecting: You do not project questions. This does not fit.
• D. destroying: You do not destroy questions. This does not fit.

Answer

The best option is B. answering: "Bola studiously avoided answering the questions."

Exam tip

In "fill the gap" questions, first check the grammar (here, a gerund after avoid), then test each option for meaning. Watch out for parry, which sounds like "avoid" but would create a double negative idea: avoiding avoiding.