Antonyms — Choose the option that best expresses the opposite of ‘‘SYNTHETIC’’ (man-made/artificial vs. natural/organic).

Given data

• Word: SYNTHETIC = artificial; man-made
• Options: Affable; Natural; Plastic; Cosmetic

Concept/ApproachThe straightforward antonym is ‘‘natural’’—existing in or derived from nature; not made by humankind.

Step-by-step reasoningSynthetic (artificial) ↔ Natural (not artificial).‘‘Affable’’ relates to friendliness; ‘‘Plastic’’ is itself synthetic; ‘‘Cosmetic’’ refers to appearance.

Verification/AlternativeCommon pairings: synthetic fibers vs. natural fibers.

Common pitfallsPicking ‘‘Plastic’’ because it is a synthetic example; the antonym must reject artificiality altogether.

Final AnswerNatural