Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: risk
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
The question tests your understanding of the word “jeopardy”, another common vocabulary term in competitive exams and news articles. It often appears in legal, environmental and economic contexts, such as “the project is in jeopardy” or “lives are in jeopardy”. Knowing its meaning helps you quickly grasp whether the writer is talking about danger, safety or some other condition. Your task is to select the synonym that best reflects the meaning of “jeopardy”.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
“Jeopardy” is a noun that means “danger”, “peril” or “risk of loss, harm or failure”. When we say something is “in jeopardy”, we mean it is in serious danger of being damaged, lost or destroyed. Among the options, “risk” is the closest in meaning, because it indicates the possibility of harm or loss. The other words, “angry”, “serene” and “injure”, describe emotional states or actions, not a general condition of danger or threat. Therefore, the approach is to match the abstract idea of danger with the correct synonym “risk”.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the common phrase “in jeopardy” and think what it usually implies: being in danger or at risk.
Step 2: Compare this meaning with each option.
Step 3: “Risk” clearly relates to the chance of loss, harm or failure, which matches the meaning of “jeopardy”.
Step 4: “Angry” describes an emotional state of anger, not danger.
Step 5: “Serene” means calm and peaceful, which is almost the opposite of being in danger.
Step 6: “Injure” is a verb meaning to cause harm, not a noun describing a dangerous situation.
Step 7: Conclude that “risk” is the correct synonym.
Verification / Alternative check:
Use both words in similar sentences to test interchangeability. For example, “The survival of the project is in jeopardy” can be rephrased as “The survival of the project is at risk.” Both sentences convey the same idea: there is a serious chance the project may fail. If you substitute any of the other options, the sentence becomes either ungrammatical or completely changes its meaning, confirming that “risk” is the only suitable synonym among the choices given.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Angry: This word expresses a human emotional state, not a condition of threat or danger to something.
Serene: This means calm, peaceful and untroubled, and in fact suggests the absence of danger or risk.
Injure: This is a verb meaning to cause physical or emotional harm; it does not describe a general state of being at risk, so it cannot serve as a synonym for “jeopardy”.
Common Pitfalls:
Some students confuse “jeopardy” with “jealousy” because of superficial sound similarity, but the meanings are completely different. Others misunderstand “jeopardy” as a specific type of injury rather than a general state of risk. To avoid such confusion, always link new words to typical phrases like “in jeopardy” and make a short mental story, such as “the plan is in jeopardy because of lack of funds”. This practice anchors the meaning around “danger” and “risk”, making it easy to recall in exam conditions.
Final Answer:
Correct answer: risk.
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