John Thomas, an _____ writer, passed away in 2018. A. imminent B. prominent C. eminent D. dominant

GATE 2019 · General Aptitude · Most Appropriate Word · medium

Answer: C. eminent

1. Eliminate imminent: 'Imminent' means 'about to happen soon' and applies to events, not people. 'An imminent writer' is meaningless. Eliminated.
2. Eliminate dominant: 'Dominant' means having authority or control. It does not describe a writer's literary reputation. Eliminated.
3. Choose between prominent and eminent: Both 'prominent' and 'eminent' can describe a respected writer. However, 'eminent' specifically implies high distinction in a professional or intellectual field, whereas 'prominent' merely means well-known. For a writer being specifically remembered after death, 'eminent' is the stronger, more precise, and expected word. Answer = C. eminent.