Question

Complete the sentence with the correct degree of adjective from the options given.
The Maths exam was ______________ than I expected.
A) Difficult
B) Most difficult
C) Least difficult
D) Less difficult

Answer 1

Hint: In the given sentence the Maths exam is being compared to the level of expectation that the student had, Therefore, the comparative degree of comparison must be used to complete the sentence by filling the bank.

Complete answer:
 In the given question, Maths is being compared with the speaker’s perception. Hence, the topic of this question is the degrees of comparison. Let us try to understand this concept.
Adjectives are words that are used to describe a noun. There are three levels of adjectives, degrees of comparison. The Positive Degree is used while describing one person or object. The Comparative Degree is used while comparing two persons or objects with one another. These adjectives usually have more or less is added before the word, if it is more than two syllables. The Superlative Degree is used while comparing more than two persons or two objects.
In this question, the Maths exam is being compared with the subject’s expected difficulty. Hence, the comparison is between two things. Therefore, the degree of comparison is the comparative degree.
The given word is ‘difficult’ and since the words ‘more’ or ‘less’ is added in front of a large word to make it comparative, the correct answer is option ‘D’, less difficult. Options ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ are incorrect as they do not show comparative degrees.

Note:
To solve such questions with ease, it is necessary to have a clear understanding of the degrees of comparison.