Question: There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide in which blank (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.
Sentence: Easing the anxiety and pressure of having a “big day” is part of the appeal for many couples who marry in secret.
Paragraph: Wedding season is upon us and – after two years of Covid chaos that saw nuptials scaled back– you may think the temptation would be to go all out. ___(1)___. But instead of expanding the guest list, many couples are opting to have entirely secret ceremonies. With Covid case numbers remaining high and the cost of living crisis meaning that many couples are feeling the pinch, it’s no wonder that some are less than eager to send out invites. ___(2)___. Plus, it can’t hurt that in celebrity circles getting married in secret is all the rage. ___(3)___. “I would definitely say that secret weddings are becoming more common,” says Landis Bejar, the founder of a therapy practice, which specialises in helping brides and grooms manage wedding stress. “People are looking for ways to get out of the spotlight and avoid the pomp and circumstance of weddings. ___(4)___. They just want to get to the part where they are married.”
The theme of the passage is the shift from grand wedding celebrations to weddings in secret.
The given setence tells us why couples prefer secret weddings.
Blank (1): The idea of secret weddings has come up till this point and hence the given sentence cannot fit in blank (1).
Blank (2): The idea of secret wedding was introduced in the prevoius sentences. The next sentence start with 'Plus' and gives a reason for preference for secret wedding. The word 'Plus' leads us to think that there would be some other reasons for secred wedding before this statement. This is where the given sentence fits the best.
Hence, option (b).