In the following vocabulary question, out of the given alternatives, select the word that is opposite in meaning to the word Grumpy.

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your knowledge of antonyms, that is, words with opposite meanings. The target word is grumpy, a common descriptive adjective in English. Knowing its opposite helps you understand emotional descriptions in stories, conversations, and comprehension passages.

Given Data / Assumptions:
You are given five options: cross, bad tempered, irritable, pleasant, and sulky. The word grumpy describes a person who is easily annoyed, in a bad mood, and not cheerful. Therefore, you must locate the option that represents the opposite emotional state, namely someone cheerful, easygoing, or in a good mood.

Concept / Approach:
Grumpy is negative in tone and suggests frequent complaining or irritation. Words like cross, bad tempered, irritable, and sulky all describe similar negative moods. An antonym must reverse this quality and indicate happiness or agreeableness. Among the options, pleasant stands out as the only clearly positive attitude word that contrasts with grumpy.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Clarify the meaning of grumpy as easily annoyed, complaining, and not cheerful.Step 2: Group the options based on whether they are positive or negative in emotional tone.Step 3: Recognise that cross, bad tempered, irritable, and sulky all describe negative moods related to anger or sadness.Step 4: Notice that pleasant alone suggests a cheerful, friendly, and agreeable personality.Step 5: Conclude that pleasant is the direct opposite of grumpy in this set of choices.

Verification / Alternative check:
Think of two sentences. One says He is always grumpy in the morning, and the other says He is always pleasant in the morning. The meaning clearly reverses, with the first implying irritation and the second implying friendliness. If you replace grumpy with cross or sulky, the negativity remains. This check confirms that pleasant is the natural antonym.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Cross means slightly angry or annoyed, which is very close in meaning to grumpy rather than opposite. Bad tempered describes a person who often gets angry, again similar to grumpy. Irritable also means easily annoyed or offended, almost a synonym. Sulky describes someone who is silent and unhappy due to resentment. All four are therefore negative mood words and cannot be antonyms of grumpy.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes overthink and look for a less obvious answer, especially if the correct one appears too simple. Another mistake is to confuse similar sounding words and treat cross or sulky as different enough from grumpy to count as opposites. Always remember that antonyms must reverse the emotional value, not merely differ slightly in shade.

Final Answer:
The antonym of grumpy is Pleasant.