Question

Choose the correct answer to fill in the blank from the options given:
We must try to get at the _____ of the problem.
A) Root
B) Route
C) Way
D) Top

Answer 1

Hint: This question is from the topic of Idioms. Idioms are groups of words or phrases which have a figurative meaning rather than a literal meaning. It means that the words used in an idiom may sound irrelevant and out of context, but their meanings are totally different from the words being used.

Complete answer:
The ____ of the problem is an idiom that is commonly used to refer to the ultimate cause of a given problem. Let us check the options for the most suitable word to complete the idiom.
Let us analyze the given options:
Option A) Root – the word ‘root’ refers to the starting point from where a plant grows. It may also refer to the foundation or background of a person. This meaning is used in the above-given idiom, to refer to the ultimate cause of the problem. Therefore, ‘the root of the problem’ is the correct idiom. Thus, this option is correct.
Option B) Route – ‘Route’ is a homophone of ‘root’, meaning that they both have the same pronunciation. But these words have different meanings. ‘Route’ basically refers to a path taken by something or someone or events, etc. For e.g. I took a different route to avoid the traffic. It does not complete the idiom. Thus, this option is wrong.
Option C) Way – The word ‘way’ has many meanings, like the manner or method in which something is done, a road or path, a sloping structure that is used to launch a new ship into the sea. Neither of the meanings fit appropriately in the blank to complete the idiom. Thus, this option is incorrect.
Option D) Top – the word ‘top’ refers to the tip or the peak or the highest point of something. For e.g. It is pretty evident that human beings are at the top of the food chain. It is not a suitable word to fill the blank with, as it cannot be used to refer to the cause of a problem. Therefore, this option is incorrect.

Thus, the correct answer is Option (A) i.e, We must try to get at the root of the problem.

Note: There are many other idioms related to ‘problems’ like the one which is given in the question. For e.g
i) “A hard nut to crack” refers to a problem that is difficult to solve.
ii) “Sweep under the rug” means to hide a problem or keep the problem a secret, rather than dealing with it.
iii) “Kick the can down the road” means to avoid dealing with a problem.