Choose the most appropriate word from the options given below to complete the following sentence.
The __________ of evidence was on the side of the plaintiff since all but one witness testified that his story was correct.
A. paucity B. propensity C. preponderance D. accuracy
GATE 2011 · General Aptitude · Most Appropriate Word · medium
Answer: C. preponderance — 'The preponderance of evidence was on the side of the plaintiff' correctly expresses that the majority (almost all witnesses) supported the plaintiff.
Interpret the context: The sentence says 'all but one witness' testified for the plaintiff — meaning almost all evidence pointed one way. The blank needs a noun meaning 'great quantity or majority portion' of evidence.
Match word meanings to context: A. paucity = shortage — contradicts the idea that many witnesses agreed. B. propensity = tendency — does not fit as a descriptor of evidence volume. C. preponderance = greater weight/majority — 'preponderance of evidence' is a set legal phrase matching the context. D. accuracy = correctness — describes quality, not quantity.