Question

In the following sentence, a part of the sentence is underlined. Beneath the sentence, four different ways of paraphrasing the underlined part are indicated. Choose the best alternative among the four options:

The management can still hire freely but cannot scold freely. (CLAT, 2015)

• A. cannot scold at will
• B. cannot give umbrage
• C. cannot take decision to scold
• D. cannot scold willfully

Answer 1

The correct option is A cannot scold at will

Options A and D: 'At will' means 'at whatever time or in whatever way one pleases.

'Willfully' is a negative word that means 'with the intention of causing harm'.

The best version of the underlined phrase should mean the same. So 'at will' is closest in meaning to 'freely'. Hence the former is the better version and option A is correct, D is wrong.

Option B: 'Umbrage' means 'offence or annoyance'. It is not relevant in meaning.

Option C: 'Take decision to scold' is an unnecessary extension of the phrase. Also, the meaning changes due to the word 'decision'.

Hence options B and C are wrong.