English Vocabulary — Choose the closest meaning (contextual synonym). Sentence (corrected): He listened to my request with indifference.

Introduction / Context:
This item tests your understanding of noun synonyms describing attitudes or feelings. The key word is “indifference,” a common descriptor in interpersonal communication and psychology that signals lack of interest or concern toward a stimulus or request.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Sentence (corrected for the right preposition): “He listened to my request with indifference.”
• We seek the closest synonym to “indifference.”
• Options: disinterest, concern, displeasure, caution.

Concept / Approach:
“Indifference” means a state of being uninterested, unmoved, or unconcerned. The closest single-word synonym among the options is “disinterest.” While some style guides distinguish “disinterest” (impartiality) from “uninterest” (lack of interest), contemporary usage widely accepts “disinterest” as lack of interest as well. The other choices either invert the meaning (concern) or change it to different feelings (displeasure = annoyance; caution = carefulness).

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Paraphrase with common collocations: “indifferent to criticism,” “showed disinterest in the proposal.” Both phrases convey apathy or lack of engagement. In context, the listener is unmoved by the request, exactly what “indifference/disinterest” communicates.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• concern: Antonym-like; suggests care or worry.
• displeasure: Indicates annoyance or irritation, not neutral apathy.
• caution: A careful, vigilant attitude; unrelated to interest level.

Common Pitfalls:
Over-focusing on prescriptive distinctions that do not change the exam outcome. For competitive exams, “disinterest” is commonly treated as a valid synonym of “indifference.”

Final Answer:
disinterest