In this English vocabulary question, you must select the word which is opposite in meaning (antonym) to the verb "irk".

Introduction / Context:
This question checks your understanding of antonyms for common English verbs. The word given is "irk". In competitive exams, words like "irk" appear frequently to test whether you can map them correctly to their meanings and then choose exact opposites. Knowing these vocabulary pairs helps in reading comprehension and in accurately expressing emotions and reactions.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The target word is "irk".
• Options provided are Attract, Discourage, Irritate, and Please.
• We must choose one option that is opposite in meaning to "irk".
• Only one option should be clearly and directly opposite.

Concept / Approach:
"Irk" means to annoy, irritate, or make someone feel slightly angry and bothered. Therefore, the antonym must be a verb that expresses the opposite emotional effect, such as making someone happy, satisfied, or content. "Please" is the verb that means to make someone feel happy or satisfied. The other options do not express the opposite emotional state and are therefore incorrect.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that "irk" means to irritate, annoy or bother someone. Step 2: Note that "Irritate" is actually a synonym of "irk", not its antonym. Step 3: Examine "Attract", which refers to drawing someone towards something; this is not the opposite of annoyance, it is about attention or interest. Step 4: Examine "Discourage", which means to cause someone to lose confidence or enthusiasm; this does not express the opposite of annoyance, but it is also negative. Step 5: Examine "Please", which means to make someone happy or satisfied; this clearly contrasts with annoying or irritating someone. Step 6: Conclude that "Please" is the only word that truly reverses the emotional effect of "irk".

Verification / Alternative check:
We can verify the answer by constructing example sentences. Consider: "Loud, repetitive noises irk me" versus "Kind words please me". The emotional responses are on opposite sides: one causes irritation, the other causes satisfaction. Also, dictionary definitions support this: "irk" is defined as "to irritate; annoy", while "please" is "to give enjoyment or satisfaction to". Therefore, they form a natural antonym pair in the context of emotional impact on a person.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"Attract" deals with drawing interest or attention. Something that attracts you may still irritate you (for example, flashy advertisements), so this is not a true opposite. "Discourage" is about reducing confidence or hope. A person could be discouraged and still feel irked, so this word is not the opposite of "irk". "Irritate" is a direct synonym of "irk", as both words refer to causing annoyance. This is exactly what we must avoid choosing in an antonym question.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to choose a word that simply feels different, without checking whether it is truly opposite. Another pitfall is to pick a word that is vaguely negative, assuming that the exam simply wants a different negative word. However, antonym questions require precision: you must find the word that reverses the meaning, not just any unrelated term. For verbs describing feelings, always consider the emotional result: annoyance versus pleasure, sadness versus happiness, etc. Here, moving from "annoy" to "please" gives a clear and strong contrast, which is what examiners test.

Final Answer:
The word that is opposite in meaning to "irk" is Please.