The brutal killing of members of the opposition provoked strong …

Analyze the question

The sentence is: "The brutal killing of members of the opposition provoked strong ......"

We need a noun that fits logically after "provoked strong" and describes a natural reaction to a brutal killing.

Explain the concept

This is a test of vocabulary in context and collocation, meaning which words naturally go together. "Provoke" means to cause a reaction. "Strong" is often paired with words of reaction or feeling, such as strong condemnation, strong protest, or strong opposition.

Check each option

• A. condemnation: strong disapproval or public criticism. A brutal killing would naturally be met with this, and "strong condemnation" is a very common phrase. ✔
• B. accusation: a claim that someone did wrong. It is possible in some contexts, but "provoked strong accusation" is not natural. We would usually say "accusations" (plural) or "provoked accusations". It also does not express a reaction to brutality as well.
• C. molestation: harassment or sexual abuse. It doesn't fit the context.
• D. denial: refusal to admit something. A killing doesn't provoke "denial" as a general public reaction, and "strong denial" would come from the accused, not as a response to the killing.

Answer

Tip: In "fill in the gap" questions, first ask, "What would a normal person's reaction be?" Then check for common word pairings (collocations) such as strong condemnation, deep regret, heavy rainfall. Reading the options aloud with the sentence helps you hear which one sounds right.