Fill in the blank with the appropriate article.
The committee deliberated extensively over whether ____________ increase in tuition fees was justifiable given the prevailing economic climate.

Correct option is C

The correct option to fill in the blank is (c) an.
Explanation: The intended sentence is: “The committee deliberated extensively over whether an increase in tuition fees was justifiable, given the prevailing economic climate.” We use an before words beginning with a vowel sound; increase begins with /ɪ/ (vowel sound), so an is required. Moreover, this is the first mention of the noun phrase (“increase”), so an indefinite article fits. (“increase” = वृद्धि/बढ़ोतरी)
Example: An increase in taxes could dampen consumer spending.
Explain why other options are incorrect.
· (a) a: Used before consonant sounds; incorrect here because increase begins with a vowel sound. (a = किसी एक, but sound rule fails)
· (b) the: Definite article; would refer to a specific, known increase, which the sentence does not establish. (the = वह विशेष)
· (d) no article: Zero article is not used with singular countable nouns like increase in first mention.
Information booster (Articles):
· a/an depends on sound, not letter: an hour (silent h), a university (/juː/ consonant sound).
· Use the for unique/specified items or second mention: the increase we discussed yesterday.