Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Clamorous
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Vocabulary questions that ask for synonyms check not just your memory of word meanings, but also your sense of nuance and context. The word given here is “Boisterous”. You must select the option that is closest in meaning, especially in the way the word is commonly used in everyday English and exam passages.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
A synonym is a word that has the same or very similar meaning in most contexts. “Boisterous” is often used for children, crowds, parties, or weather that is noisy, energetic, and a little out of control. We should therefore look for an option that conveys loud and noisy behaviour, rather than aggression or size. Eliminating obviously unrelated meanings is a reliable strategy in such questions.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the meaning of “boisterous”. It usually means noisy, cheerful, energetic, and sometimes slightly rough or unruly.
Step 2: Consider “Clamorous”. This word describes a loud, noisy outcry or a situation full of shouting and loud demands. It strongly suggests excessive noise.
Step 3: Compare the two words. Both “boisterous” and “clamorous” refer to loudness, especially in a crowd or group, so they are close in meaning in many situations.
Step 4: Check “Ferocious”. It indicates extreme fierceness or savagery, usually for animals, attacks, or storms. The focus is on violence, not merely noise.
Step 5: Check “Fissiparous”. This is a technical word meaning inclined to break into parts or causing division; it is used in biology and politics. It does not relate to noisy behaviour.
Step 6: Check “Voluminous”. This means very large, bulky, or having great volume, as in “voluminous hair” or “voluminous documentation”. Again, it is unrelated to noisy or rowdy behaviour.
Step 7: Therefore, the option that best matches “boisterous” is “Clamorous”.
Verification / Alternative check:
Consider sample sentences: “The boisterous children ran through the corridors, laughing and shouting.” We could also say, “The clamorous children ran through the corridors.” In both versions, the idea of loud, disruptive noise is clear. By contrast, replacing “boisterous” with “ferocious” or “voluminous” would change the meaning completely and sound wrong in context. Thus, context-based substitution confirms that “Clamorous” is the closest synonym among the options.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Ferocious: emphasises cruelty and savage aggression, not normal noisy liveliness.
Fissiparous: technical term about division or splitting, especially in biology or political groups; unrelated to noise levels.
Voluminous: describes size or quantity, not behaviour or sound.
Common Pitfalls:
Some students confuse “boisterous” with “violent” or “ferocious” simply because both can describe storms or crowds. However, “boisterous” usually suggests noisy high spirits rather than actual danger. Another pitfall is not recognising rare words like “fissiparous” and “voluminous” and picking them at random. In such cases, always fall back on the known meaning of the target word and choose the option that fits best with that meaning.
Final Answer:
The word most similar in meaning to “Boisterous” is Clamorous.
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