Select the most appropriate option that can substitute the underlined segment in the sentence.
A part of the following sentence is underlined. Choose the option which can replace the underlined part to improve the sentence: The speaker warned that the economy would hang on a thin thread if corruption continued unchecked.
आपने शायद यह सोचाWhat you probably thought'upon' 'on' का औपचारिक रूप प्रतीत हुआ, इसलिए सुरक्षित बदलाव लगा। परंतु निश्चित phrase 'hang by a thread' है, और 'by' 'thin' के साथ 'upon' नहीं बन जाता।'upon' sounds like a formal twin of 'on', so it seemed a safe swap. But the fixed phrase is 'hang by a thread', and 'by' does not change with 'thin' or become 'upon'.
आपने शायद यह सोचाWhat you probably thought'with' स्वाभाविक लगा, क्योंकि धागे को पकड़कर लटका जाता है। परंतु idiom (मुहावरा) 'hang by a thread' है; इसमें 'with' नहीं आता, केवल 'by' से idiom सही रहता है।'with' felt natural because a thread is something one holds on with. But the idiom is 'hang by a thread'; 'with' is not used, so only 'by' keeps the idiom intact.
आपने शायद यह सोचाWhat you probably thoughtवाक्य सहज पढ़ा जाता है, और 'on a thin thread' आसानी से स्वीकार हो जाता है। परंतु निश्चित phrase में 'by' चाहिए, इसलिए सुधार आवश्यक है।The sentence reads smoothly, and 'on a thin thread' is easy to accept as it sounds like 'on'. But the fixed phrase needs 'by', so improvement is required.
Answer और ExplanationAnswer and explanation
Answer: (A) hang by a thin thread
निश्चित मुहावरा hang by a thread है। पूर्वसर्ग (Preposition) by इसी मुहावरे का हिस्सा है, और विशेषण thin लगने से वह नहीं बदलता।
✓
...the economy would hang by a thin thread if corruption continued unchecked.
सरल अर्थ: अगर भ्रष्टाचार बिना रोक-टोक के चलता रहा, तो अर्थव्यवस्था बहुत बड़े खतरे में पड़ जाएगी।
The fixed phrase is hang by a thread. The preposition by is part of the phrase, and it does not change with the adjective thin.
✓
...the economy would hang by a thin thread if corruption continued unchecked.
बाकी Options उत्तर क्यों नहीं हैंWhy the other options are not the answer
B'upon' 'on' का औपचारिक रूप प्रतीत हुआ, इसलिए सुरक्षित बदलाव लगा। परंतु निश्चित phrase 'hang by a thread' है, और 'by' 'thin' के साथ 'upon' नहीं बन जाता।'upon' sounds like a formal twin of 'on', so it seemed a safe swap. But the fixed phrase is 'hang by a thread', and 'by' does not change with 'thin' or become 'upon'.
C'with' स्वाभाविक लगा, क्योंकि धागे को पकड़कर लटका जाता है। परंतु idiom (मुहावरा) 'hang by a thread' है; इसमें 'with' नहीं आता, केवल 'by' से idiom सही रहता है।'with' felt natural because a thread is something one holds on with. But the idiom is 'hang by a thread'; 'with' is not used, so only 'by' keeps the idiom intact.
Dवाक्य सहज पढ़ा जाता है, और 'on a thin thread' आसानी से स्वीकार हो जाता है। परंतु निश्चित phrase में 'by' चाहिए, इसलिए सुधार आवश्यक है।The sentence reads smoothly, and 'on a thin thread' is easy to accept as it sounds like 'on'. But the fixed phrase needs 'by', so improvement is required.
Source: SSC MTS Tier 1 · 19 Feb 2026 · Shift 1। Solution: Prashant Sir, Ramban।Source: SSC MTS Tier 1 · 19 Feb 2026 · Shift 1. Solution by Prashant Sir, from Ramban.