In the following question, out of the four alternatives, choose the one which can be substituted for the given words/sentence. A person who is able to speak many different languages with ease and reasonable fluency.

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your knowledge of a common term used to describe people with advanced language abilities. The description is "a person speaking many languages." In our increasingly global world, such individuals are highly valued, and there is a specific word in English that captures this skill accurately and concisely.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The person is able to speak many languages, not just one or two.
• The focus is on language ability, not just general talkativeness or public speaking.
• The options include conversant, polyglot, talkative, orator, and bilingual.
• We need the word that directly means "speaker of many languages."

Concept / Approach:
The word "polyglot" comes from Greek roots meaning "many tongues." In English, a polyglot is a person who knows and uses several languages. This can include speaking, reading, and sometimes writing. It is more specific than "conversant" or "bilingual" and is different from "orator," which emphasises skill in public speaking rather than the number of languages known.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on "many languages," which implies more than two.Step 2: Examine "conversant," which simply means familiar or knowledgeable about a subject and does not refer specifically to language count.Step 3: Examine "polyglot," defined as a person who knows and can use several languages.Step 4: Examine "talkative," which means someone who talks a lot, independent of language variety.Step 5: Examine "orator," which refers to an effective public speaker, often in one primary language.Step 6: Note that "bilingual" refers to someone who knows two languages, not many.Step 7: Conclude that "polyglot" directly and precisely matches the description.

Verification / Alternative check:
Imagine a person who can comfortably hold conversations in English, Hindi, Spanish, French, and Japanese. We would describe such a person as a polyglot. On the other hand, a person who speaks only Hindi and English is bilingual, not polyglot. A person who speaks loudly and impressively in public is an orator, but may know only one language. These comparisons verify that polyglot is the correct one word substitute for someone who speaks many languages.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"Conversant" describes general familiarity with a topic and may not even relate to language. "Talkative" focuses on quantity of speech, not number of languages. "Orator" emphasises public speaking skill, not multilingual ability. "Bilingual" is limited to two languages and therefore does not satisfy the requirement of "many languages" in the stem.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates often confuse polyglot with bilingual or think that being very talkative automatically implies language skill. Another pitfall is to select orator because it sounds like a praise word, but it does not address the key feature of multiple languages. Remember that "poly" suggests many, as in polygon or polytechnic, which helps you recall that polyglot refers to someone who knows many languages.

Final Answer:
polyglot