Analogy with opposites: “Indolence is related to Work in the same way as Taciturn is related to ______”. Choose the word that stands opposite to taciturn as work stands opposite to indolence.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Speak

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This analogy is built around pairs of words that show opposite qualities. Indolence refers to laziness or reluctance to work, so work stands as the contrasting concept. The question asks you to apply the same idea to taciturn, which describes a person's speech behaviour. Recognising that both pairs express an opposite relationship between a personality trait and an activity is the key.


Given Data / Assumptions:

    • First pair: Indolence and Work. • Second key word: Taciturn. • Options: Observe, Speak, Cheat, Act. • We assume standard meanings: indolence as laziness, taciturn as habitually silent.


Concept / Approach:
Indolence is lack of willingness to work or activity. The opposite or contrasting concept is work, the very activity that an indolent person avoids. Taciturn is a personality trait that means reserved or disinclined to talk. Therefore, we look for a word in the options that represents the activity that a taciturn person does not do often, similar to how a lazy person does not work much. The natural choice is “speak”.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Clarify the first relationship. Indolence is laziness. A person with indolence avoids work. So the pair “Indolence : Work” represents “dislike or absence of” versus “the activity that is avoided”. Step 2: Understand the word taciturn. A taciturn person is habitually silent or uncommunicative. They talk very little and avoid conversation. Step 3: Examine each option in relation to taciturn. Observe means to watch carefully. It is not a direct opposite of taciturn, which is about talking habits. Speak is the act of talking or expressing oneself aloud, which is precisely what taciturn people rarely do. Cheat means to act dishonestly to gain advantage. It is unrelated to being quiet or talkative. Act means to take action or perform. This is not specific to speech. Step 4: The only option that is directly contrasted with being taciturn is “Speak”.


Verification / Alternative check:
We can structure both pairs: “Indolence : Work” and “Taciturn : Speak”. In each case, the first word describes a tendency to avoid the second activity. A lazy person avoids work; a taciturn person avoids speaking. This keeps the analogy balanced and consistent in the way the relationship is formed on both sides of the double colon.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
• Observe: Someone can be taciturn and still observe carefully; observation is independent of talkativeness. • Cheat: Relates to honesty, not to speech amount or silence. • Act: Refers to taking action generally and does not contrast directly with silence in conversation.


Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates confuse taciturn with shy or afraid, and therefore may not immediately connect it to speech. However, the central idea in taciturn is “habitually silent”. Keeping a clear mental link between personality traits and specific activities, such as laziness with work and taciturnity with speaking, helps in solving many vocabulary analogies accurately.


Final Answer:
The correct word that completes the analogy is Speak.

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