Part of: Miscellaneous Indian Gk set 304

Degree:Very few cities in West Bengal are as big as Kolkata. (Superlative Degree)

Category: Miscellaneous Indian Gk

Hint: Consider the comparative context and the superlative degree.

Correct Answer: D) Kolkata is one of the biggest cities in West Bengal.

Exam Relevance: CBSE, ICSE, SSC, JEE, NEET

Difficulty: Easy

Explanations:

The superlative degree is used to compare three or more items and indicates the highest or lowest degree of a quality. In the context of the given statement, "Degree: Very few cities in West Bengal are as big as Kolkata," the superlative degree is implied because it suggests that Kolkata is one of the largest cities in West Bengal. The statement does not claim that Kolkata is the only largest city, but rather that it is one of the largest among a small number of cities.

Understanding the superlative degree is crucial in English grammar, particularly when making comparisons. The superlative form is typically formed by adding "-est" to adjectives (e.g., "biggest") or using "most" or "least" before adjectives (e.g., "most beautiful," "least expensive"). In this case, the statement uses the superlative degree to indicate that Kolkata is one of the largest cities in West Bengal, not necessarily the only largest city.

The statement "Very few cities in West Bengal are as big as Kolkata" implies that Kolkata is one of the largest cities, but it does not exclude the possibility that there might be other cities of similar size. Therefore, the correct option must reflect this nuance. Option D, "Kolkata is one of the biggest cities in West Bengal," accurately captures this meaning by using the superlative degree and acknowledging that there may be other cities of similar size.

It is important to note that the superlative degree can sometimes be confused with the comparative degree, which is used to compare two items. The comparative degree is typically formed by adding "-er" to adjectives (e.g., "bigger") or using "more" or "less" before adjectives (e.g., "more beautiful," "less expensive"). However, in this context, the superlative degree is the appropriate form to use because it involves comparing Kolkata to multiple other cities in West Bengal.

In summary, the correct answer is Option D because it accurately reflects the superlative degree implied by the statement, indicating that Kolkata is one of the largest cities in West Bengal without excluding the possibility of other similarly sized cities.

Option Analysis:
  • Option A: This option is incorrect because it implies that Kolkata is the only biggest city, which contradicts the statement that very few cities in West Bengal are as big as Kolkata.
  • Option B: This option is incorrect because it suggests that Kolkata is the only biggest city in West Bengal, which is not supported by the statement that very few cities are as big as Kolkata.
  • Option C: This option is incorrect because it does not reflect the superlative degree implied by the statement. It suggests that Kolkata is just one of many big cities, which does not align with the idea that very few cities are as big as Kolkata.
  • Option D: This option is correct because it accurately reflects the superlative degree implied by the statement. It indicates that Kolkata is one of the largest cities in West Bengal, which aligns with the idea that very few cities are as big as Kolkata.

Mnemonic: Biggest in a group: "One of the biggest" for multiple top items.

Back to Miscellaneous Indian Gk set 304 – Practice all questions