Choose the word which is nearly opposite in meaning to the given word. The target word is "insolent", used to describe behaviour that is rude, disrespectful, or boldly impolite.

Introduction / Context: This antonym question checks your understanding of the adjective insolent, a word used to describe speech or behaviour that is rude, disrespectful, or openly insulting, especially towards someone in authority. To choose the correct opposite, you must think of a word that describes polite, friendly, and respectful behaviour.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The word to be contrasted is "insolent". We assume the usual exam meaning: boldly rude or disrespectful. The correct antonym should convey politeness, friendliness, or courteous behaviour.

The options include emotional states (sullen), personality traits (affable, determined), wealth (rich), and hostility.

Concept / Approach: Insolent people speak or act in a way that shows they have little respect for others. The opposite type of person would be affable: friendly, good-natured, and easy to talk to, usually showing basic politeness. Sullen means gloomy or silently resentful, determined refers to firmness of decision, and rich is about wealth; none of these directly express the opposite of rude. Hostile suggests active unfriendliness or aggression, which is similar in tone to insolent rather than opposite.

Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Restate insolent in simpler words: rude, disrespectful, impudent. Step 2: Look for an option that describes someone who is pleasant, courteous, or friendly. Step 3: Option B Affable means friendly, pleasant, and easy to approach, which contrasts well with arrogant rudeness. Step 4: Option A Sullen describes someone who is gloomy or silently resentful, which is not necessarily polite or rude. Step 5: Option C Determined expresses a strong will, not politeness or rudeness. Step 6: Option D Rich refers to wealth and is unrelated to behaviour or manners. Step 7: Option E Hostile means unfriendly or antagonistic and is close in negativity to insolent, not opposite.

Verification / Alternative check: Consider typical collocations: insolent child, insolent reply, insolent tone. Now imagine the opposite: an affable child, an affable reply, an affable tone. While we more often say polite reply or respectful tone, affable comes closest among the given options to portraying a pleasant manner. A sullen reply might be quiet but still unfriendly; a determined reply describes firmness, not courtesy. This shows that affable is the best available opposite to insolent in this list.

Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A Sullen conveys a moody silence or resentment rather than courteous friendliness; the person may still be unfriendly or rude. Option C Determined describes willpower and persistence, not a person's politeness or rudeness. Option D Rich is about financial status and has nothing to do with manners or respect. Option E Hostile suggests open unfriendliness or aggression, which is similar in tone to insolent rather than the opposite.

Common Pitfalls: Learners sometimes pick a word that is simply not negative, assuming it must be the opposite. But opposites should mirror the key dimension of meaning: here, the dimension is politeness vs rudeness, not happy vs sad or rich vs poor. Always ask: along which scale is this word placed? Once you recognise that insolent belongs on the polite–rude scale, you can confidently choose a word like affable, which lies toward the polite, friendly end of that scale.

Final Answer: The word nearly opposite in meaning to "insolent" is affable.