In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the one word that is the best substitute for the phrase: a person who talks too much about himself and constantly refers to his own achievements.

Introduction / Context:
This single word substitution question focuses on subtle differences between closely related psychological terms. The phrase a person who talks too much of himself points to a kind of self centred conversational style where someone constantly refers to personal achievements, opinions, and experiences. English makes a useful distinction between Egoist, which refers broadly to a self centred person, and Egotist, which refers more specifically to someone who talks about himself excessively. Recognising this distinction is important for scoring full marks in vocabulary based questions.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Phrase: a person who talks too much of himself.
• Options: Egoist, Elite, Emetic, Egotist.
• We must choose the word that most precisely matches the behaviour described.
• Standard distinctions in advanced English vocabulary are assumed.

Concept / Approach:
The keyword in the phrase is talks too much of himself. This emphasises speech and conversation rather than only inner attitude. Egotist is defined as a person who is excessively self centred in speech and who repeatedly talks about personal achievements, talents, or experiences. Egoist is a broader term for someone who is selfish and puts personal interest first, but it does not specifically highlight constant self reference in talk. Elite refers to a superior group and Emetic refers to a medicine that induces vomiting, so they are clearly irrelevant here.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note that the phrase does not simply say self centred but focuses on talks too much of himself, which is a behavioural description of speech. Step 2: Examine Egoist. This is someone who is selfish and mainly concerned with personal advantage, but may or may not show this by constant talking about self. Step 3: Examine Elite, which refers to a select group of people with high status or ability, not to a personality type who talks about self. Step 4: Examine Emetic, which is a medical term for a substance that induces vomiting, clearly unrelated to personality or speaking behaviour. Step 5: Examine Egotist, which standard dictionaries define as a person who is excessively conceited and self centred in speech, constantly talking about himself. Step 6: Align this meaning with the given phrase and see that it matches perfectly. Step 7: Conclude that Egotist is the most accurate single word substitute.

Verification / Alternative check:
Consider example sentences such as He is such an egotist that every conversation somehow becomes a story about his achievements. Here, egotist clearly emphasises talking about self. If we replace egotist with egoist, the sentence still sounds possible but loses some precision, because egoist traditionally focuses more on self interest than on talk. In examination settings, the more precise term linked to excessive self talk is preferred. That is why egotist is the correct choice when the phrase explicitly mentions talking too much of himself.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Egoist is wrong in this context because it does not necessarily imply constant self reference in conversation, even though some modern usage blends the two words. Elite is wrong because it refers to a high status group, not an individual behaviour pattern. Emetic is wrong because it is a medical word for a drug that induces vomiting and has nothing to do with personality traits or speech habits. None of these alternatives fits the behaviour described as well as Egotist does.

Common Pitfalls:
Many students confuse Egoist and Egotist because they share the root ego. Some teachers and modern writers even use them interchangeably, but traditional exam based English usually maintains the distinction. To avoid confusion, remember that Egoist concerns self interest and selfish actions, while Egotist concerns self talk and constant boasting. Linking the letter t in Egotist to talking can be a helpful memory trick for multiple choice exams.

Final Answer:
The correct single word substitute for a person who talks too much of himself is Egotist.