From the given passage about David and his grandmother, choose the option that gives the opposite meaning (antonym) of the word "disconsolate".

Introduction / Context:
This reading comprehension question is based on a passage that describes the close relationship between David and his grandmother. After her death, David is described as disconsolate. You are asked to find the option that expresses the opposite meaning, that is, the antonym of disconsolate, using your vocabulary knowledge and understanding of emotional states.

Given Data / Assumptions:
The key word from the passage is:

• disconsolate

The options given are:

• Devastated
• Hilarious
• Exuberant
• Sombre

The passage explains that David was disconsolate after his grandmother died, meaning he was extremely sad and could not be comforted.

Concept / Approach:
Disconsolate means very unhappy, deeply sad, and difficult to comfort. The opposite must therefore refer to a state of high happiness, positive energy, and cheerfulness. We should identify which option most strongly conveys a positive, lively mood. It is important not to be misled by words that are also negative or only weakly positive.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that disconsolate describes a person who is extremely sad and hard to console. Step 2: Examine Devastated. This also describes intense sadness or emotional destruction, which is similar in meaning to disconsolate, not its opposite. Step 3: Examine Hilarious. This usually describes something extremely funny, not the emotional state of a person in general. It does not directly represent an overall mood opposite to deep sadness. Step 4: Examine Exuberant. This word means full of energy, excitement, and joy, which is clearly a very positive emotional state. Step 5: Examine Sombre. This means serious, dark, or gloomy, and is related to sadness, not its opposite. Step 6: Since Exuberant directly suggests lively happiness that contrasts strongly with deep sadness, it is the best antonym of disconsolate among the options.

Verification / Alternative check:
We can test our understanding by forming contrasting sentences. After his grandmother died, David was disconsolate, meaning deeply unhappy. In contrast, if David had been exuberant, he would have been full of excitement and joy, which would not fit the sad situation in the passage. This shows why disconsolate is used in the text, but for an antonym, exuberant is appropriate. Devastated and sombre reinforce sadness, while hilarious focuses on the quality of a joke rather than a stable emotional condition.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Devastated is wrong because it is a near synonym of disconsolate, indicating extreme sorrow. Hilarious is wrong because it normally describes something that causes laughter, such as a hilarious joke, rather than a general emotional state opposite to deep grief. Sombre is wrong because it means dark, gloomy, or serious, which again leans toward sadness, not happiness. Only exuberant clearly expresses a lively and joyful state that contrasts with disconsolate.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students may pick hilarious simply because it seems happy or funny. However, vocabulary questions often require the closest and most precise opposite. Exuberant describes a sustained mood of joy and energy, which is more suitable as an antonym to deep, lasting sadness. Another pitfall is choosing words that feel intense without checking whether they are positive or negative. Always separate words that show intense sadness from those that show intense joy.

Final Answer:
The antonym of disconsolate in this context is Exuberant.