Vocabulary – Choose the option that BEST expresses the meaning of the underlined expression in context. Sentence: His visit to foreign countries brought about a sea-change in his outlook and his attitude to people.
-
Acomplete change
-
Bpartial change
-
Cfavourable change
-
Dunfavourable change
Answer
Correct Answer: complete change
Explanation
Introduction / Context:The phrase “sea-change” is a well-known English idiom meaning a very large, transformative change. In this sentence, it describes how the person's outlook and attitude altered after travelling abroad. Understanding fixed expressions like this is essential for vocabulary-building and reading comprehension.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- The key phrase is “sea-change”.
- It modifies “his outlook and his attitude to people”.
- We must select the closest meaning from the options.
- No other contextual clues limit whether the change is positive or negative; only its magnitude is emphasized.
Concept / Approach:“Sea-change” conventionally means a radical or complete transformation. It does not inherently mean “good” or “bad”; rather, it emphasizes scale and depth. Therefore, the best paraphrase focuses on totality, not sentiment.
Step-by-Step Solution:Identify the idiom: sea-change = profound transformation.Compare options for magnitude versus polarity: “complete change” (magnitude), “partial change” (limited), “favourable” or “unfavourable” (polarity).Match the idiom: only “complete change” captures the sense without adding positive/negative bias.Confirm with context: travel often reshapes attitudes profoundly, aligning with “complete change”.
Verification / Alternative check:Substitute the option in place of the idiom: “brought about a complete change” keeps the sentence natural and faithful to the intended meaning.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- partial change: contradicts the idea of a radical transformation.
- favourable change: adds positivity not stated in the sentence.
- unfavourable change: adds negativity not stated in the sentence.
Common Pitfalls:Assuming “sea-change” implies positive improvement. The term is neutral about valence but strong about scale.
Final Answer:complete change