In the following question, a sentence is given with a blank to be filled with an appropriate word. Select the correct alternative that best completes the sentence in meaning and tone: The psychopath gets a ______________ sense of enjoyment from torturing animals.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: perverse

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This vocabulary question checks whether you understand the precise adjective that describes a twisted and morally abnormal kind of pleasure. The sentence talks about a psychopath who enjoys torturing animals, which is clearly a cruel and deviant behaviour. We must choose a word that captures the disturbing and abnormal nature of this enjoyment, not just any ordinary positive feeling.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Sentence: “The psychopath gets a ______________ sense of enjoyment from torturing animals.”
  • Subject: the psychopath, a person with a severely disturbed personality.
  • Action: gets enjoyment from torturing animals, which is clearly cruel and morally wrong.
  • Options: perverse, agreeable, happy, reasonable.
  • We need an adjective that describes this enjoyment as sick, twisted or morally distorted.


Concept / Approach:
The word perverse means having a deliberate and obstinate desire to behave in a way that is unreasonable, unacceptable or morally wrong, especially when it involves taking pleasure in cruelty or suffering. In contrast, agreeable, happy and reasonable are neutral or positive words that do not express the disturbed, abnormal quality of this kind of pleasure. Because the sentence is about a psychopath enjoying torture, the only suitable adjective is perverse, which highlights a sick, distorted sense of enjoyment.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Identify the key idea: a psychopath enjoys torturing animals, which is cruel and morally abnormal.Recognise that the adjective must describe a twisted or sick enjoyment, not a normal pleasant feeling.Check perverse: it means wickedly or strangely wrong, taking pleasure in cruelty or wrongdoing.Check agreeable, happy and reasonable: these all suggest normal, positive or logical feelings and do not fit the context of cruelty.Conclude that perverse is the only word that accurately and strongly describes such enjoyment.


Verification / Alternative check:
Read the sentence with each option: “a happy sense of enjoyment” or “an agreeable sense of enjoyment” suggests normal or pleasant satisfaction, not mental disturbance. “A reasonable sense of enjoyment” sounds logical and calm, which clashes completely with the idea of torturing animals. “A perverse sense of enjoyment” immediately signals that the enjoyment is morally corrupt and psychologically abnormal, which is exactly the meaning we need for a psychopath.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Agreeable means pleasant or enjoyable in a normal way and does not capture cruelty. Happy simply describes a positive emotional state without the idea of moral distortion. Reasonable means sensible, logical or fair, the opposite of a psychopath's behaviour. None of these words suggests twisted pleasure in suffering. Only perverse carries the sense of enjoying something that is clearly wrong or cruel.


Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes ignore the emotional tone of the sentence and choose a word that seems grammatically correct but does not match the moral context. When you see words like psychopath and torturing animals, you must look for vocabulary that suggests abnormal or wicked tendencies. Remember that perverse is often used to describe pleasure taken in things that are morally wrong or disgusting. That association makes it the correct choice here.


Final Answer:
The blank should be filled with perverse, making the sentence: “The psychopath gets a perverse sense of enjoyment from torturing animals.”

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