Answer the following question below and choose the option that best completes the gap(s) The driver died in the .......... road accident

Analyze the question: We need the word that best fits "The driver died in the ___ road accident." This tests word choice (collocation): which adjective naturally describes an accident in which someone dies.

Explain the concept:

• Fatal means causing death. "Fatal accident" is a standard collocation.
• Brutal means savagely cruel or harsh. It describes people, attacks, or treatment, not accidents.
• Serious means grave or severe, but a serious accident does not necessarily involve death. It is also weaker and less precise here.
• Pathetic means arousing pity, or (informally) miserably inadequate. It doesn't describe the nature of an accident.

Step-by-step solution:

1. The sentence says the driver died, so the accident resulted in death.
2. The adjective that specifically means "resulting in death" is fatal.
3. "Fatal road accident" is a common phrase in news reports, e.g., "A fatal road accident occurred on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway."
4. The other options are either inappropriate in meaning (brutal, pathetic) or less precise (serious).

Answer: A. fatal

Exam tip: When a sentence states that someone died, look for "fatal" as the descriptor of the event. Remember: fatal = death involved, while serious only means severe. In "best completes the gap" questions, choose the word with the most precise meaning and the most natural collocation.