Question

Instructions: Choose the correct synonymous word or description for each quoted word in the passage below.

“The Jan Lokpal Bill, also 'referred to' (126) as the citizens' ombudsman bill, is a proposed 'independent' (127) anti-corruption law in India. Anti-corruption social activists proposed it as a more effective improvement on the original Lokpal Bill, which is currently being proposed by the government of India. The Jan Lokpal Bill aims to effectively 'deter' (128) corruption, redress 'grievances' (129) of citizens, and protect whistle-blowers. If made into law, the bill would create an independent 'ombudsman' (130) body called the Lokpal. It would be empowered to register and investigate complaints of corruption against politicians and bureaucrats without prior government approval.” (Source: Wikipedia)

(130) 'ombudsman' means:

• A. a government appointee who investigates complaints by private persons against bureaucrats and/or politicians.
• B. a government appointee who investigates complaints by the government against common citizens.
• C. a government appointee who investigates complaints by citizens against citizens.
• D. a government appointee who investigates complaints by the government against government officials.

Hint:

An ombudsman handles complaints made BY citizens AGAINST officials, not the other way round.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

The key detail to get right here is the direction of the complaint: who is complaining, and who is being complained about.

1. Option A: Private citizens complain against bureaucrats/politicians. This matches the real-world role of an ombudsman, as also described later in the passage (“investigate complaints of corruption against politicians and bureaucrats”).
2. Option B: Reverses the direction, government complaining against citizens, which does not match.
3. Option C: Describes citizen-versus-citizen disputes, which is a matter for courts, not an ombudsman.
4. Option D: Has the government complaining against its own officials, again the wrong direction.

So the correct answer is option A.