In the following question, a sentence with 2 blanks is given followed by 5 options. From the given options, choose the pair of words that can fit in both the blanks respectively and make the sentence complete and meaningful both contextually and grammatically . His playing career was _____________short due to cardiac issues in the late 20s but he not only made a comeback to the competitive arena but also enjoyed a ___________career off the field.

The sentence indicates that the player's career ended prematurely due to health issues, but later, he had a remarkable career off the field."Cut" is the correct word for the first blank because it naturally collocates with "short" (cut short), meaning to bring to a sudden or premature end. Other options like "protracted" (which means prolonged), "prolonged" (which means extended), and "revived" (which means restarted) contradict the intended meaning of the sentence. "Curtail" is not only incorrect contextually but also ungrammatical here. This rules out option 1 completely. "Sterling" is the correct choice for the second blank because it means excellent or outstanding, making it the best fit for describing a remarkable career off the field. Other options like "lackluster" (which means dull), "unremarkable" (which means not noteworthy), and "mundane" (which means ordinary) contradict the positive tone of the sentence. Therefore, option (3) "cut, sterling" is the right answer.