The company’s sudden announcement of layoffs was seen as _______ by many employees, who did not feel the decision had been _______ from the beginning.

Choose the best combination of words that fit the blanks in the same order to make the sentence grammatically and logically correct.

Question

The company’s sudden announcement of layoffs was seen as _______ by many employees, who did not feel the decision had been _______ from the beginning.

Choose the best combination of words that fit the blanks in the same order to make the sentence grammatically and logically correct.

Accepted Answer

**Solution:**

1. Analyze the first blank:
   - The sentence refers to a "sudden announcement of layoffs," so the word describing the announcement should mean something sudden or unexpected.
   - "Abrupt" means sudden and unexpected, often in a way that feels unplanned or even rude, which fits perfectly.
   - Other options like "strategic" (carefully planned), "transparent" (open and clear), "calculated" (carefully planned), and "reckless" (careless) do not fit the context of a sudden announcement.

2. Analyze the second blank:
   - The employees "did not feel the decision had been _______ from the beginning," implying the decision was already made before the announcement.
   - "Predetermined" means decided or fixed beforehand, which logically fits the context.
   - Other options:
     - "Unexpected" means not anticipated, which contradicts the idea of the decision being made from the start.
     - "Concealed" means hidden, which does not fit the idea of a decision being made.
     - "Improvised" means made up on the spot, opposite of predetermined.
     - "Justified" means reasonable or right, which does not fit the context.

**Answer:** (a) abrupt, predetermined

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