Question

Which two sentences in the following convey the same idea? Choose from the combinations listed below.

1) He is in a fool's paradise.
2) He can't see the wood for the trees.
3) He can't distinguish between reality and fancy.
4) He is unable to separate unimportant details from the really important ones.

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

Hint:

Look for the idiom that means missing the big picture due to over-focus on details.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

A quicker route here is elimination. Group the four statements by theme and rule out any pairing that mixes themes.

1. Theme check for statement 1: false comfort from not knowing the truth. This theme does not match statement 2, 3, or 4, so any option pairing 1 with something else can be dropped.
2. Theme check for statement 3: confusing reality with imagination. This theme also does not match statement 2 or 4, so any option pairing 3 with something else can be dropped too.
3. Theme check for statement 2: missing the big picture because of small details.
4. Theme check for statement 4: unable to separate unimportant details from important ones, which is the same theme as statement 2, worded differently.

Once statements 1 and 3 are ruled out as the odd ones out, only the pair 2 and 4 is left, and they clearly share the same theme.

Let's summarize:

• Eliminating the mismatched themes leaves only one workable pair.
• Statements 2 and 4 both describe losing sight of the big picture over small details.

So the correct answer is option (2), statements 2 and 4.