Complete this question with the most appropriate of the options lettered A – E He … great confidence that he…

Analyze the question

The sentence is: "He ............... great confidence that he would win even when his opponent seemed to be gaining the upper hand." We need a verb that fits with "great confidence" and the clause "that he would win".

Explain the concept

This is a vocabulary-in-context question that tests collocations (words that naturally go together). Look at each option:

• Asserted: means to state something firmly. You can "assert that he would win," but you don't "assert confidence that..." in this structure. You could say "He asserted that he would win." With "great confidence" as the object, it sounds awkward.
• Exerted: means to apply force or effort, as in "exerted pressure" or "exerted influence." It doesn't go with "confidence."
• Explored: means to investigate or travel through. It doesn't fit.
• Expounded: means to explain in detail, as in "expounded a theory." It doesn't fit.
• Exuded: means to give off or radiate a quality or feeling, as in "exuded charm" or "exuded confidence." This is a very common collocation.

Solution

"He exuded great confidence" means he radiated or showed confidence in the way he carried himself. The phrase "even when his opponent seemed to be gaining the upper hand" shows that his confidence stayed visible despite the pressure. "Exuded" fits both the meaning and the grammar.

Answer: E. exuded

Tip

Learn common collocations: exude confidence/charm, exert influence/pressure, expound a theory, assert a claim/right. In "Complete the sentence" questions, ask yourself which verb naturally pairs with the noun that follows. Reading the options aloud with the noun often helps you hear the one that sounds right.