SSC Selection Post Phase 14 (Matric Level)2026-09-22Shift 3Cloze Test
AI and Digital Autonomy

The rapid integration of Artificial Intelligence into daily life has sparked a contentious debate regarding digital autonomy. Proponents argue that if developers (1) ______ more robust ethical frameworks during the initial coding phase, the current issues with algorithmic bias would be less pervasive. Currently, a significant portion of the tech industry, including the most prominent software engineers, (2) ______ that innovation must outpace regulation. This mindset, however, often leaves the public (3) ______ to the whims of opaque data-harvesting practices. Furthermore, the (4) ______ of digital surveillance in modern urban environments has led to a slow erosion of personal privacy. Only when transparency becomes the industry standard (5) ______ to trust the systems that increasingly govern our lives.

Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 2.

Answer और ExplanationAnswer and explanation

Answer: (A) maintains

Window: *…a significant portion of the tech industry, including the most prominent software engineers, (2) ______ that innovation must outpace regulation.*. 'Currently' वर्तमान स्थिति को दर्शाता है, और वास्तविक subject 'a significant portion' है।
Concept: including… वाला phrase (पदबंध) केवल अतिरिक्त जानकारी है, इसलिए verb 'portion' (singular) के अनुसार आएगा।
✓
…a significant portion of the tech industry… maintains that innovation must outpace regulation.
'Maintain' plural है, 'has maintained' से 'currently' वाला अर्थ छूट जाता है, और किसी विश्वास को बताने के लिए 'is maintaining' स्वाभाविक नहीं लगता।
Window: *…a significant portion of the tech industry, including the most prominent software engineers, (2) ______ that innovation must outpace regulation.*. 'Currently' shows the present, and the real subject is 'a significant portion'.
Concept: The phrase including… is extra, so the verb agrees with 'portion' (singular).
✓
…a significant portion of the tech industry… maintains that innovation must outpace regulation.
'Maintain' is plural, 'has maintained' loses the sense of 'currently', and 'is maintaining' is not natural for stating a belief.

बाकी Options उत्तर क्यों नहीं हैंWhy the other options are not the answer

B'maintain' इसलिए चुना गया कि पास में बहुवचन 'engineers' है। परंतु असली subject 'a significant portion' एकवचन है; 'including…' केवल अतिरिक्त अंश है।'maintain' looks right because 'engineers' just before the blank is plural. But the subject is 'a significant portion', which is singular, and 'including…' is only an extra phrase.
C'is maintaining' इसलिए उपयुक्त लगा कि 'currently' चालू क्रिया सुझाता है। परंतु किसी राय पर टिके रहना सामान्य स्थिति है, इसलिए 'maintains' अधिक उचित है।'is maintaining' seems apt because 'currently' hints at something happening now. But a view or stance is a general position, not an action in progress, so the simple present is used.
D'has maintained' पुराने मत के लिए उचित प्रतीत हुआ। परंतु 'currently' वर्तमान स्थिति बताता है, अतः यहाँ 'maintains' सही है।'has maintained' sounds natural for a long-held view. But 'currently' asks for the present state, and the verb must still agree with singular 'portion', so 'maintains' is used.

Source: SSC Selection Post Phase 14 (Matric Level) · 2026-09-22 · Shift 3। Solution: Prashant Sir, Ramban।Source: SSC Selection Post Phase 14 (Matric Level) · 2026-09-22 · Shift 3. Solution by Prashant Sir, from Ramban.