Question

There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide in which blank (option 1,2,3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.
Sentence: This has meant a lot of uncertainty around what a wide-scale return to office might look like in practice.
Paragraph: Bringing workers back to their desks has been a rocky road for employers and employees alike. The evolution of the pandemic has meant that best laid plans have often not materialised. ___(1)___ The flow of workers back into offices has been more of a trickle than a steady stream. ___(2)___ Yet while plenty of companies are still working through their new policies,some employees across the globe are now back at their desks,whether on a full-time or hybrid basis. ___(3)___ That means we're beginning to get some clarity on what return-to-office means - what's working,as well as what has yet to be settled. ___(4)___.

• A. Option 1
• B. Option 2
• C. Option 3
• D. Option 4

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

To ascertain the optimal location for the sentence, "This has meant a lot of uncertainty around what a wide-scale return to office might look like in practice," an analysis of its contextual relationship within the paragraph is required.

1. The initial sentence establishes the difficulty of worker repatriation for both employers and employees, thereby introducing the central issues.

2. Subsequently, the narrative details the pandemic's influence on evolving plans, indicating that perpetual changes have precipitated complications.

The sentence, "This has meant a lot of uncertainty around what a wide-scale return to office might look like in practice," logically follows the discussion of pandemic-induced disruptions, as uncertainty is a natural consequence of altered plans. Therefore, its placement after the second sentence is most appropriate.

3. The third sentence points to the variability in workers' returns, implying process uncertainty, which is further corroborated by the target sentence's positioned placement.

4. The subsequent sentences address the introduction of new policies and the gradual emergence of clarity.

Consequently, the sentence functions most effectively as Option 2, bridging the discourse on disrupted plans with the gradual return of workers, thereby highlighting the attendant uncertainty.