Question:medium

The various branches of knowledge complete, correct, and balance each other. This consideration, if well-founded, must be taken into account, not only as regards the attainment of truth, which is their common end, but as regards the influence which they exercise upon those whose education consists in the study of them.

The word exercise in the extract above most nearly means:

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Substitute each word directly into "the influence which they ___ upon those..." and see which keeps the sense of exerting an effect.
Updated On: Jul 13, 2026
  • remove
  • cut
  • impose
  • arrange
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The word "exercise" is being used as a verb in "the influence which they exercise upon those whose education consists in the study of them." We need the option that keeps this exact meaning when substituted into the sentence.

Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
Substitute each option directly into the sentence in place of "exercise" and check which one preserves both the grammar and the original sense of an influence acting on a person.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
"The influence which they remove upon those..." does not make sense, since remove means to take away, not to act upon.
"The influence which they cut upon those..." also fails for the same reason, cut means to reduce or sever, not to act upon someone.
"The influence which they impose upon those..." reads naturally and keeps the meaning intact, impose means to exert a force or effect on someone, exactly what "exercise" means here.
"The influence which they arrange upon those..." does not work either, arrange means to put things in order, not to exert an effect.

Step 4: Final Answer:
The word "exercise" in this extract means to exert or bring to bear, so the closest match is "impose."
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