Fill in the Blanks

Acumen means keen insight, shrewdness, or the ability to make good judgments. An IAS officer would be known for administrative acumen - the ability to understand complex situations and make wise decisions. Accost means to confront aggressively, accrue means to accumulate, and apply means to put into use.

Adjourned means CANCELLING without prior notice.

Agnostic means a person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God. This perfectly fits the context of someone who does not believe in God. Accost means to confront, cheer up is a phrase meaning to become happier, and asylum means refuge or protection.

Amateur means a person who engages in a pursuit, especially a sport, on an unpaid rather than professional basis. In the context of staging drama, an amateur is someone who does it for passion rather than as a profession. Aloof means distant, amputate means to cut off, and aquiline means curved like an eagle's beak.

The phrase 'sorry for' is used to express sympathy or condolence about someone's situation. 'I am sorry for your grandmother' means you feel bad about what she is experiencing. Other options like 'sorry in' or 'sorry with' are not standard English idioms for expressing sympathy.

'Looking for' is a phrasal verb that means searching for something that is lost. Jobin is searching for his lost purse, so 'looking for' is the correct expression. 'Looking in' or 'looking with' do not convey the meaning of searching.

'With me' indicates possession or having something on one's person. 'I have no bucks with me' means I don't have any money/rupees on my person right now. 'Bucks off me' or 'bucks of me' are not standard English expressions.

'Under my pillow' correctly describes placing something beneath the pillow. When you hide something under a pillow, 'under' is the appropriate preposition to show position below something.

'All over the world' is a standard idiom meaning 'everywhere in the world' or 'throughout the world'. When you want to say something exists everywhere on Earth, 'all over' is the correct expression.

'Assented' means agreed to or gave approval. The sentence means everyone agreed with the CEO's decision. 'Dissented' means the opposite (disagreed). 'Cadaverous' means pale/gaunt, 'creeper' is a plant, and 'swapped' means exchanged - none fit the context.

'Backed up' means supported. The sentence means his parents supported him. 'Bring into' is grammatically incorrect here (should be 'brought up' for raised). 'Grievance' is a noun meaning complaint, and 'poke' means to jab - none fit the context.

'Asinine' means silly, foolish, or stupid - perfect for describing a remark that made everyone laugh. 'Assume' is a verb meaning to suppose, 'azure' is blue color, 'nagged' means complained repeatedly, and 'snug' means cozy/tight.

'Bashful' means shy, modest, or easily embarrassed. Bipasha was so shy that she avoided appearing before strangers. 'Batter' is mixture, 'soggy' means wet/soft, 'snagged' means caught on something, and 'crop' is a plant or harvest.

'Evoked' means elicited, brought forth, or drew out a response. The performance drew out the audience's admiration. 'Elucidate' means to explain clearly, 'climbed' means ascended, and 'drizzle' means light rain.

'By dint of' is an idiom meaning 'by means of' or 'through the effort of'. The sentence means through hard work, he achieved a high position. 'By hint of' is not a standard phrase, while 'do away with' means abolish, 'called off' means cancelled, and 'get out' means leave.