Directions: For the given question, select one entry for the blank to best complete the text.

The authoritarian government sought to __________ the ascendancy of the army.

Option (1): ‘Truncate’ means ‘to cut off’. ‘Sought to cut off the rise of the Army’, doesn’t make any sense. Option (2): ‘Transcend’ means rise above, which is not fit in the context of an authoritarian government. Option (3): ‘Condone the ascendancy of the army’ is not exactly suited in the context. ‘Condone’ is to ignore, which doesn't make much sense in the given context. Option (4): ‘Authoritarian’ is the key word. The authoritarian entity must seek to control the domination or rise of another entity. So, the best possible answer is (4). Option (5): ‘Purge’ is to throw out or cleanse.