Incorrect. The correct answer is option A – networks, kickbacks. “Networks” refers to interconnected systems of people, and “kickbacks” are illegal payments for favors, fitting the context of political patronage. Example: “The politician used patronage networks to distribute kickbacks to his supporters.”

Incorrect. The correct answer is option B – intensity, galvanized. “Intensity” means extreme strength or severity, and “galvanized” means stimulated into action, fitting the context of water crisis awareness. Example: “The intensity of the drought galvanized the government into immediate action.”

Incorrect. The correct answer is option B – flag, shored. “Red flag” means a warning signal, and “shored up” means strengthened or supported, fitting the context of audit systems. Example: “The audit system must red flag risks and be shored up to prevent failures.”

Incorrect. The correct answer is option C – reissue, stocks. “Reissue” means to issue again, and “stocks” refers to financial instruments, fitting the context of bond market liquidity. Example: “Companies should reissue bonds to shore up floating stocks in the market.”

Incorrect. The correct answer is option A – increased, progress. “Increased” means raised, and “progress” means forward development, fitting the context of population growth factors. Example: “Increased literacy and economic progress lead to lower population growth.”

Incorrect. The correct answer is option D – dangling, narrow. “Dangling” means hanging loosely, and “narrow” means not wide, fitting the context of congested lanes. Example: “The narrow lanes with dangling wires prevented heavy machinery from reaching the site.”

Incorrect. The correct answer is option C – moral, fail. “Moral hazard” refers to the risk that a party may act recklessly because they won’t bear the consequences, and “too-big-to-fail” is the concept that large entities cannot be allowed to collapse. Example: “Moral hazard arises from the too-big-to-fail syndrome in banking.”

Incorrect. The correct answer is option A – worse, peers. “Worse” is the comparative form of bad, and “peers” means equals or counterparts, fitting the comparison between PSUs and private sector entities. Example: “PSUs often perform worse than their private sector peers due to procedural focus.”

Incorrect. The correct answer is option D – productivity, growth. “Productivity” refers to efficiency of production, and “growth” refers to economic expansion, fitting the context of occupational safety benefits. Example: “Occupational safety leads to improved productivity and economic growth.”

Incorrect. The correct answer is option A – variability, imperative. “Variability” means the quality of being variable or changeable, and “imperative” means absolutely necessary, fitting the context of water management. Example: “Rising variability in rainfall patterns makes it imperative to manage water resources efficiently.”

Incorrect. The correct answer is option C – picture, cooperation. “Picture” means a situation or state of affairs, and “cooperation” means working together, fitting the diplomatic context. Example: “The two countries are unlikely to present a picture of neighbourly cooperation.”

Incorrect. The correct answer is option B – collateral, develop. “Collateral” means security pledged for repayment, and “develop” means grow or improve, fitting the context of bond market liquidity. Example: “Central banks accept bonds as collateral to develop the bond market.”

Incorrect. The correct answer is option B – mandated, spectacularly. “Mandated” means required or commanded by authority, and “spectacularly” means in a striking or dramatic way, fitting the context of failed compliance. Example: “The mandated local bodies have spectacularly failed to manage waste properly.”

Incorrect. The correct answer is option C – barriers, imbalance. “Barriers” refers to obstacles or restrictions, and “imbalance” means lack of balance, fitting the context of trade issues. Example: “The ministers discussed trade barriers and trade imbalance between the two countries.”

Incorrect. The correct answer is option A – migrants, opportunities. “Migrants” are people who move from one place to another, and “opportunities” means favorable circumstances, fitting the context of urbanization. Example: “Millions of migrants move to cities seeking better opportunities.”

Incorrect. The correct answer is option A – fabricated, manipulated. “Fabricated” means invented or fake, and “manipulated” means controlled or altered deceptively, fitting the context of harmful content. Example: “Fabricated and manipulated content on social media can lead to violence.”

Incorrect. The correct answer is option C – soliciting, inclusion. “Soliciting” means seeking or requesting, and “inclusion” means including or incorporating, fitting the context of journal approvals. Example: “The UGC’s policy of soliciting recommendations for inclusion of journals has aggravated the problem.”

Incorrect. The correct answer is option A – investigating, credible. “Investigating” means examining or inquiring into, and “credible” means trustworthy or reliable, fitting the context of fake news research. Example: “Researchers are investigating the fake news scene, but credible information about creators is scarce.”

Incorrect. The correct answer is option D – cooperative, challenges. “Cooperative” means working together, and “challenges” means difficult problems, fitting the context of global issues. Example: “Cooperative global effort is essential to addressing challenges like climate change.”

Incorrect. The correct answer is option C – disciplined, capitulating. “Disciplined” means controlled or regulated, and “capitulating” means surrendering or giving in, fitting the context of banking and business. Example: “State-owned banks disciplined chaebols rather than capitulating to political pressure.”