Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Agitation
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Turbulence is a word that appears in both everyday and technical contexts, such as air travel, politics, and physics. In ordinary English, it usually conveys a sense of disturbance, disorder, or violent movement. Exams frequently ask for synonyms that capture this emotional or physical unrest. In this question, we must pick the option that matches the central idea of turbulence, not its opposite.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- The target word is Turbulence.
- The options are Agitation, Calmness, Repose, and Stillness.
- The question seeks a meaning that fits general usage, such as turbulent weather or political turbulence.
- Only one option is a true synonym; the others are antonyms or unrelated.
Concept / Approach:
Turbulence suggests a state in which things are in violent or chaotic motion. For example, a plane experiences turbulence when the air is rough and unstable. Political turbulence refers to unrest or instability in a country. Agitation is the only option that conveys a similar idea of disturbance or unrest. Calmness, repose, and stillness all express quiet, peace, or the absence of movement, which are opposite to the concept of turbulence.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the typical sentence: The aircraft hit severe turbulence. This describes rough, shaking motion.
Step 2: Examine option A, Agitation, which means disturbance, excitement, or nervous movement, very close to the idea of turbulence.
Step 3: Examine option B, Calmness, which means peace and lack of disturbance.
Step 4: Examine option C, Repose, which refers to rest, relaxation, or tranquillity.
Step 5: Examine option D, Stillness, which means absence of motion and complete quiet.
Step 6: Since turbulence implies disturbance and unrest, and Agitation matches this idea, option A is the best synonym.
Verification / Alternative check:
We can verify by substitution. In the sentence The region is going through political turbulence, we can replace turbulence with agitation to get The region is going through political agitation, which is meaningful and close in sense. If we substitute calmness, repose, or stillness, we get sentences that mean the exact opposite of the intended idea. For instance, political calmness would describe a peaceful period, not an unstable one. This confirms that Agitation is the correct synonym.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B, Calmness, is wrong because it describes a peaceful, undisturbed state, the opposite of turbulence.
Option C, Repose, is wrong because it refers to rest and relaxation, which again contrasts with turbulence.
Option D, Stillness, is wrong because it means no movement at all, while turbulence is about intense movement and disturbance.
Common Pitfalls:
Sometimes students know the basic sense of the word but confuse themselves by overthinking. They may imagine technical meanings from physics, where turbulence has a precise mathematical definition, and forget the everyday usage. For exam purposes, it is usually safe to focus on the general language meaning unless the question clearly indicates a specific field. Also, in synonym questions with three clear opposites and one matching word, the single matching word is usually correct, so you should be confident selecting it after a quick check.
Final Answer:
The correct answer is Agitation.
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