The unruly crowd demanded that the accused be _________ without trial.
A. Hanged B. Hanging C. Hankering D. Hung
GATE 2016 · General Aptitude · Most Appropriate Word · medium
Answer: The correct word is 'Hanged' (A).
Identify the grammatical structure: The sentence uses the passive voice: 'the accused be _____'. The blank requires a past participle. Options B (hanging) and C (hankering) are present participles/wrong forms. The contest is between 'hanged' (A) and 'hung' (D).
Apply the hanged/hung distinction: 'Hanged' = execution of a person. 'Hung' = suspending an object. The sentence refers to executing the accused (capital punishment). Therefore 'hanged' is correct.