Question 1

VOCABULARY — Choose the synonym (same meaning) of the highlighted word.  Sentence: “We had a DELECTABLE meal yesterday.”

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: “Delectable” is a positive evaluative adjective for food, meaning extremely pleasant to taste; delicious. We need the closest everyday synonym. Given Data / Assumptions: Domain: food/meal description. Target meaning: deliciousness/palatability. Distractors mix taste quality and other attributes. Concept / Approach: Of the choices, “tasty” most closely matches “delectable.” “Nice” is weak and generic; “heavy” refers to richness or quantity, not taste quality; “unsavory” is the opposite in taste or moral sense. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Define “delectable”: very pleasant to the taste; delicious.2) Choose strongest semantic match: “tasty”.3) Eliminate distractors by domain mismatch or polarity. Verification / Alternative check: Paraphrase remains intact with “tasty,” while “nice” under-expresses the intensity conveyed by “delectable.” Why Other Options Are Wrong: A) “heavy” — fullness/richness, not deliciousness.B) “unsavory” — negative taste or moral association.D) “nice” — too vague and weak in intensity.E) Not needed; exact synonym exists. Common Pitfalls: Picking a broadly positive word like “nice.” Precision matters in synonym questions. Final Answer: tasty

Question 2

VOCABULARY — Choose the antonym (opposite in meaning) of the highlighted word.  Sentence: “There was something strange and MORBID about the whole house.”

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: “Morbid” often means diseased, unhealthy, or abnormally preoccupied with disturbing subjects. In descriptions of places or atmospheres, it suggests a sickly, death-related, or unhealthy feel. We need a direct opposite. Given Data / Assumptions: Use is adjectival, modifying “house” by atmosphere/quality. Antonym should flip the health-related quality. Several positive adjectives are offered as distractors. Concept / Approach: The core antonym for “morbid” in the health sense is “healthy.” Words like “cheerful” change mood but not necessarily healthfulness; “appealing” addresses attractiveness; “insipid” means dull or tasteless, not the opposite of morbid’s sickly tone. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Identify the sense in context: unhealthy/sickly atmosphere.2) Choose the antonym on the same semantic axis: “healthy”.3) Eliminate mood-only or unrelated-value adjectives. Verification / Alternative check: Replacing confirms: “There was something … healthy about the whole house” directly reverses the attribute implied by “morbid.” Why Other Options Are Wrong: B) “cheerful” — mood/brightness, not the health axis.C) “insipid” — bland; not antonymic to morbid.D) “appealing” — attractiveness, not health.E) Not applicable, since a precise antonym exists. Common Pitfalls: Choosing a generally positive word (“cheerful”) that does not invert the key semantic feature (health/disease) of “morbid.” Final Answer: healthy

Question 3

Antonyms – Choose the word that is OPPOSITE in meaning to the highlighted word. Sentence: The leader was pragmatic in his approach to the problem facing the country. Target word: pragmatic

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Vocabulary items like pragmatic and idealistic are frequently tested as antonym pairs because they represent contrasting mindsets toward decision making. Pragmatic describes focusing on what works in practice, while idealistic emphasizes principles, ideals, or perfection even when practicality is uncertain. The sentence frames leadership style, so understanding this semantic contrast is essential. Given Data / Assumptions: Sentence context: leadership approach to a national problem. Target word: pragmatic. Task: select the opposite in meaning among four choices. Concept / Approach: Pragmatic means practical, results oriented, and concerned with workable solutions. An antonym will indicate emphasis on ideals over feasibility. Idealistic commonly contrasts with pragmatic in political, managerial, and ethical discussions. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Map core sense: pragmatic = practical, matter of fact.2) Scan choices for conceptual opposite: idealistic aligns as a direct contrast.3) Check distractors: indefinite, vague, and optimistic do not encode the ideals versus practicality axis.4) Conclude that idealistic is the most precise antonym here. Verification / Alternative check: Paraphrase: If the leader were not pragmatic, one might describe him as guided by ideals despite constraints, that is, idealistic. Substituting each option into the sentence confirms only idealistic yields a natural opposite characterization. Why Other Options Are Wrong: indefinite: means not clearly defined; it does not oppose practical. vague: unclear or imprecise; not the antonymic counterpart of pragmatic. optimistic: hopeful outlook; orthogonal to practicality versus idealism. Common Pitfalls: Learners sometimes pick optimistic because leaders with practical plans can be hopeful. However, optimism concerns outlook, not the practical versus ideal focus. Another pitfall is equating pragmatic with precise; precision is different from practicality. Final Answer: idealistic

Question 4

Antonyms – Choose the word that is OPPOSITE in meaning to the highlighted word. Sentence: Many people suffer setbacks in their career because of their inherent levity. Target word: levity

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: The noun levity denotes lightness of manner, frivolity, or a tendency to treat serious matters with undue humor. In professional settings, excessive levity can be detrimental. The antonym must capture a sober, weighty, responsible attitude in contrast to undue lightness. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: levity (lightness, frivolity). Domain: workplace behavior and careers. We need the opposite quality. Concept / Approach: Opposites are found by identifying the defining semantic feature. For levity that feature is lack of seriousness. Therefore the antonym will encode gravity, earnestness, or sobriety. Among the choices, seriousness provides the direct opposite without nuance conflicts. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Define the pivot: levity = frivolity, trivial lightness.2) Select a term that reverses that quality: seriousness.3) Validate against context: careers normally reward serious, responsible conduct.4) Discard near synonyms of levity to avoid traps. Verification / Alternative check: Substitute into the sentence: Replacing levity with seriousness reverses the meaning and remains coherent. Replacing it with any distractor maintains the original sense, confirming they are not antonyms. Why Other Options Are Wrong: frivolity: synonym of levity, not an opposite. lightness: overlaps in meaning with levity. playfulness: another near synonym in tone and behavior. Common Pitfalls: Confusing solemnity or gravity with religiosity or sternness; here the item tests the basic serious versus frivolous contrast, not moral or religious connotations. Final Answer: seriousness

Question 5

Antonyms – Choose the word that is OPPOSITE in meaning to the highlighted word. Sentence: The moment when Jadish got the order of promotion as General Manager was a memorable occasion for him and his family. Target word: memorable

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Memorable describes something worth remembering because it is notable or emotionally significant. The antonym must indicate that something is not worth remembering or is easily forgotten. In celebratory family contexts, memorable is positive; its opposite is a neutral or negative evaluation of impact. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: memorable. Event type: promotion announcement, normally impactful. Task: find the opposite meaning. Concept / Approach: Antonym selection should pivot on the core semantic trait. Memorable means capable of being remembered for long. The contrary quality is liable to be forgotten, that is, forgettable. This pair is standard in general English usage. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Define: memorable = noteworthy and lasting in memory.2) Search for the word that reverses that trait.3) Identify forgettable as the precise opposite.4) Ensure other options are positive synonyms, thus incorrect for an antonym task. Verification / Alternative check: Try paraphrase: A forgettable occasion leaves little impression. That is exactly the negation of memorable. Why Other Options Are Wrong: remarkable: near synonym of memorable, not opposite. unforgettable: explicit synonym, the strongest positive form. notable: synonym meaning worthy of note. Common Pitfalls: Choosing a positive intensifier such as unforgettable because of emotional resonance with promotions; the question asks for the opposite, not a stronger synonym. Final Answer: forgettable

Question 6

Antonyms – Choose the word that is OPPOSITE in meaning to the highlighted word. Sentence: They took note of the humility of the visiting dignitary. Target word: humility

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Humility denotes modesty and a lack of pride. When audiences comment on a dignitary's humility, they highlight the person's refusal to boast or behave haughtily. The antonym must encode prideful overestimation of self and a superior manner. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: humility. Sentence context: public behavior of an important visitor. Opposite trait sought. Concept / Approach: The clearest antonym of humility is arrogance, which denotes an exaggerated sense of one's importance. Other choices either refer to unrelated qualities or to social virtues that are not opposites of modesty. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Map humility to modesty and low self emphasis.2) Identify contrary: arrogance = haughtiness, prideful bearing.3) Eliminate distractors that do not oppose humility.4) Select arrogance. Verification / Alternative check: Consider common collocations: humble vs arrogant leaders. This pair appears in leadership writing and ethics literature as direct opposites. Why Other Options Are Wrong: grandeur: scale or magnificence, not a personality opposite. friendliness: sociability, orthogonal to humility. decency: moral propriety, not the inverse of modesty. Common Pitfalls: Confusing grandeur of ceremony with arrogance of person; the sentence evaluates the individual's trait, not the event's scale. Final Answer: arrogance

Question 7

Antonyms – Choose the word that is OPPOSITE in meaning to the highlighted word. Sentence: Harish displays enthusiasm whenever he is posed with a problem. Target word: enthusiasm

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Enthusiasm refers to keen interest, eagerness, or energetic involvement. An antonym should indicate lack of interest or emotional disengagement. In problem solving, enthusiasm often correlates with proactive behavior, while its opposite signals apathy. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: enthusiasm. Scenario: response to a challenge. We need the opposite attitude. Concept / Approach: The standard antonym pair is enthusiasm versus indifference or apathy. Choices that merely indicate weakness or softness do not target engagement level. Eagerness is a synonym and must be excluded. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Gloss enthusiasm as strong interest and zeal.2) Identify contrary: indifference = lack of interest or concern.3) Exclude synonyms and irrelevant qualities.4) Select indifference. Verification / Alternative check: Replace in the sentence: “Harish displays indifference whenever he is posed with a problem” inverts the meaning logically and clearly. Why Other Options Are Wrong: eagerness: synonym of enthusiasm. weakness: denotes lack of strength, not lack of interest. softness: refers to gentleness or texture, not engagement. Common Pitfalls: Confusing energy level with physical strength; the antonym concerns attitude toward tasks, not muscular capacity or temperament. Final Answer: indifference

Question 8

Antonyms – Choose the word that is OPPOSITE in meaning to the highlighted word. Sentence: I was surprised at his stiff attitude. Target word: stiff (attitude)

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: In interpersonal contexts, stiff attitude means rigid, unyielding, or inflexible behavior. The antonym therefore should capture willingness to bend, adapt, or accommodate. While polite or lively relate to manner or energy, they do not directly oppose rigidity. Given Data / Assumptions: Target sense: stiff = inflexible in dealings. Part of speech: adjective modifying attitude. We must find the opposite trait. Concept / Approach: Antonym selection is sense specific. For attitudes, the primary dimension is flexibility versus rigidity. Therefore flexible directly reverses stiff in this usage. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Resolve intended sense: not physical stiffness, but social rigidity.2) Locate the antonym on the same dimension: flexible.3) Reject choices that change dimension to politeness or vigor.4) Confirm collocation: flexible attitude is idiomatic. Verification / Alternative check: Paraphrase: a stiff stance versus a flexible stance in negotiations. These form a natural opposition in business English. Why Other Options Are Wrong: courteous: polite, not the opposite of rigid. soft: vague and not a standard antonym for rigid attitude. lively: energetic, unrelated to rigidity. Common Pitfalls: Choosing courteous because stiffness can feel impolite; however, the linguistic dimension being tested is rigidity, not manners. Final Answer: flexible

Question 9

Antonyms – Choose the word that is OPPOSITE in meaning to the highlighted word. Sentence: It was done in a haphazard manner. Target word: haphazard

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Haphazard means lacking order or planning, characterized by randomness or chance. The antonym should assert order, forethought, and method. In process descriptions, this contrast signals quality control and reliability. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: haphazard. We seek the opposite property. Operational context: a manner of doing a task. Concept / Approach: The lexical opposition is between disorder and design. Planned, systematic, or methodical are standard antonyms. Distractors should cluster around synonyms of haphazard to test recognition of the semantic field. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Define the pivot: haphazard = random, unplanned.2) Identify the inverse: planned = arranged with forethought.3) Reject near synonyms to avoid traps.4) Choose planned. Verification / Alternative check: Substitute in sentence: “done in a planned manner” clearly negates “done in a haphazard manner”. Why Other Options Are Wrong: random: synonym of haphazard. aimless: synonymic, meaning without purpose. erratic: irregular and unpredictable; again a synonymic field. Common Pitfalls: Assuming designed and planned are interchangeable with random options; ensure you recognize which set reverses the core trait. Final Answer: planned

Question 10

Antonyms – Choose the word that is OPPOSITE in meaning to the highlighted word. Sentence: He abandoned his family. Target word: abandoned (verb sense)

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Abandon in this sentence means to desert or leave without support. Therefore the antonym must indicate continued responsibility, backing, or care. In social and legal discussions, abandonment contrasts with support and maintenance. Given Data / Assumptions: Target verb: abandon = desert, forsake. Object: his family. We need the opposite action toward the same object. Concept / Approach: The direct contrary of deserting one's family is supporting one's family, which entails remaining present and providing care or resources. Encourage, please, or save do not invert the duty dimension central to abandon. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Identify core meaning: abandonment equals withdrawal of presence and support.2) Choose the inverse: provide support and remain responsible.3) Among options, supported captures this best.4) Confirm that other verbs do not directly oppose desertion. Verification / Alternative check: Paraphrase: He did not abandon his family; he supported his family. The negation reads naturally and logically. Why Other Options Are Wrong: encouraged: emotional boost, not the opposite of desertion. pleased: emotional effect, irrelevant to presence or duty. saved: rescue from danger is episodic, not the ongoing opposite of abandonment. Common Pitfalls: Choosing saved due to positive tone; however, saving can coexist with abandonment in different times, while support directly negates desertion. Final Answer: supported

Question 11

Antonyms – Choose the word that is OPPOSITE in meaning to the highlighted word. Sentence: In a literary work, obscurity can be a virtue. Target word: obscurity

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Obscurity refers to a lack of clarity or difficulty in understanding. Critics sometimes debate whether deliberate obscurity has artistic value. Regardless of that debate, the antonymic target is the state of being clear and easy to comprehend. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: obscurity. Domain: literary style and comprehension. Need: direct opposite. Concept / Approach: Antonym pairs are best chosen by reversing the defining feature. For obscurity, the feature is unreadability or hiddenness of meaning. Clarity reverses that by making meaning plain and readily accessible to readers. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Define: obscurity = lack of clarity, difficulty of interpretation.2) Reverse the feature: clarity = transparency and ease of understanding.3) Reject distractors that repeat the base meaning.4) Select clarity as the antonym. Verification / Alternative check: Replace in the sentence: “In a literary work, clarity can be a virtue.” This yields a coherent and opposite proposition to the original. Why Other Options Are Wrong: ambiguity: uncertainty of meaning, aligned with obscurity. vagueness: imprecision or lack of sharp definition, aligned with obscurity. opacity: lack of transparency, again aligned with obscurity. Common Pitfalls: Confusing subtlety with clarity; subtle writing can still be clear. Obscure writing is not the same as profound writing. Final Answer: clarity

Question 12

Antonyms – Choose the word that is OPPOSITE in meaning to the highlighted word. Sentence: It was universally characterized as a progressive measure. Target word: progressive

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Progressive in policy discourse means favoring advancement, reform, or forward movement. The antonym must express backward movement, resistance to change, or a return to an earlier state. This opposition appears frequently in public administration and economics. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: progressive. Context: characterization of a measure or policy. We must choose a single, precise opposite. Concept / Approach: Regressive is the standard antonym in governance and taxation. For instance, a regressive tax places a heavier relative burden on lower incomes and is considered the opposite trend of progressive taxation. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Determine axis: forward change versus backward tendency.2) Identify policy-level opposite: regressive.3) Exclude synonyms that reinforce the original meaning.4) Confirm domain usage in public policy terminology. Verification / Alternative check: Substitute: “It was characterized as a regressive measure” inverts the praise of forward reform into a criticism of backward policy, confirming antonymy. Why Other Options Are Wrong: forward-looking: synonymic with progressive. innovative: positive synonym indicating novelty. modern: also aligns with contemporary and progressive tendencies. Common Pitfalls: Choosing retrograde if it appears among options; while also an antonym, regressive is the most standard term in public policy contexts. Here only regressive is provided as the opposite. Final Answer: regressive

Question 13

Antonym – Choose the option that best expresses the opposite meaning of the highlighted word in the sentence below. Sentence: Mala was often teased as “corpulent” by her friends. Target word: corpulent (meaning: excessively fat or fleshy)

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This vocabulary question asks for the antonym (opposite) of the highlighted word corpulent in the sentence “Mala was often teased as corpulent by her friends.” Corpulent is a descriptive adjective for someone who is very overweight or fleshy. To answer correctly, we must locate a word that conveys the opposite body build—thinness or leanness—rather than an unrelated personality trait. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: corpulent = very fat, fleshy, stout. Context: a remark about physical build, not temperament or talkativeness. Answer choices: fat, belligerent, garrulous, gaunt. Concept / Approach: Identify the semantic field (physical build). Then, find the choice that directly reverses the notion of heaviness. Among common antonym pairs for corpulent are thin, lean, spare, and gaunt. Avoid choices that shift to personality (belligerent) or speech habits (garrulous), because antonyms should oppose the same attribute. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Map the target meaning: corpulent → very fat.Step 2: Scan options for physical-build words.Step 3: Match opposites: fat ↔ thin/gaunt; hence select gaunt.Step 4: Discard distractors tied to other semantic domains (temperament, speech). Verification / Alternative check: Paraphrase the sentence with the opposite: “Mala was often teased as gaunt.” This flips the sense from overweight to very thin and sounds natural as an antonymic replacement in the same context. Why Other Options Are Wrong: fat: This is a synonym of corpulent, not an antonym. belligerent: Means aggressive or hostile; unrelated to body build. garrulous: Means very talkative; unrelated to physique. Common Pitfalls: Test-takers sometimes grab any negative-sounding adjective (e.g., belligerent) or a near-synonym (fat). Always align the semantic dimension—here, physique—to find a true opposite. Final Answer: gaunt

Question 14

Antonym – Choose the option that best expresses the opposite meaning of the highlighted word in the sentence below. Sentence: His “vindictive” nature often came up for comment among his friends. Target word: vindictive (meaning: revengeful, disposed…

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: The prompt asks for the antonym of vindictive in the sentence “His vindictive nature often came up for comment among his friends.” Vindictive describes someone inclined to seek revenge or harbor resentment. The correct opposite must express a willingness to let go of resentment and not retaliate. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: vindictive = revengeful. We need an opposite on the same moral-emotional axis. Options refer to varied traits (memory, temperament, compliance, courage). Concept / Approach: Map the polarity: vindictive ↔ forgiving. Words like forgiving and magnanimous undo the impulse to get even. Options that shift to unrelated traits—memory (forgetful), compliance (obedient), or boldness (timid)—do not form true antonym pairs here. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the semantic dimension: attitude toward wrongs.Step 2: State the opposite quality: readiness to pardon.Step 3: Choose forgiving as the direct antonym.Step 4: Eliminate distractors outside the same dimension. Verification / Alternative check: Rewriting the sentence with the opposite: “His forgiving nature often came up for comment …” cleanly reverses the meaning and remains idiomatic. Why Other Options Are Wrong: forgetful: Concerns memory; not the opposite of vengefulness. obedient: Concerns compliance; orthogonal to revengefulness. timid: Concerns courage; not a meaningful opposite of vindictive. Common Pitfalls: Confusing forgiving with forgetful. Forgiving is about attitude to harm; forgetting is about memory and can occur without forgiveness (and vice versa). Final Answer: forgiving

Question 15

Antonym – Choose the option that best expresses the opposite meaning of the highlighted word in the sentence below. Sentence: The minister gave a public speech on the controversial subject to “precipitate” the matter. Target word: precipitate (meani…

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: We must pick the antonym of precipitate in the policy context. Precipitate means to cause something to happen sooner or to accelerate a development. In administrative or procedural settings, its opposite would be language that slows, postpones, or delays action. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: precipitate = hasten, expedite. Context: moving a matter forward quickly. We need a verb that reverses speed/timing. Concept / Approach: Antonym selection should preserve the same dimension (timing/progress). Defer means postpone to a later time, the natural opposite of hasten. Options like push or aggravate either increase momentum or severity, and create starts something rather than scheduling it later—none of these reverse the time-acceleration sense. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Interpret precipitate in context: accelerate proceedings.Step 2: Identify the temporal opposite: slow or postpone.Step 3: Choose defer as “postpone.”Step 4: Exclude verbs that intensify or initiate rather than delay. Verification / Alternative check: Paraphrase test: “gave a speech to defer the matter” is the clean opposite of “to precipitate the matter,” confirming correct antonymy on the timing axis. Why Other Options Are Wrong: aggravate: increases severity, not timing; could even co-occur with precipitate. create: means bring into existence; not inherently about scheduling. push: usually means advance/urge forward, closer to precipitate, not opposite. Common Pitfalls: Confusing precipitate with provoke (re: anger). Even then, the opposite is still delay/defer in procedural contexts, not create. Final Answer: defer

Question 16

Complete the idea – Choose the word that most logically contrasts with the highlighted preference. Sentence: Poets often prefer “ambiguity” to ______.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: The sentence frames a stylistic contrast: poets often prefer ambiguity to _____. Ambiguity is openness to multiple meanings. The most natural and widely taught opposition in literary studies is between ambiguity and clarity (single, transparent meaning). We must select the complement that forms a conventional semantic pair. Given Data / Assumptions: Key concept: ambiguity = multiplicity of meaning. Task: fill the blank with a contrasting concept. Options include epistemic (certainty), cognitive (rationality), evaluative (perversity), and communicative (clarity) terms. Concept / Approach: Good completions respect idiomatic pairings. In rhetoric and criticism, ambiguity is regularly contrasted with clarity or precision. Although certainty is related, it concerns knowledge-state rather than communicative transparency; rationality concerns method, not interpretability; perversity is moral, not semantic. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the frame “prefer X to Y,” signalling an opposition.Step 2: Map ambiguity → interpretive multiplicity.Step 3: Choose the direct communicative opposite: clarity.Step 4: Rule out alternatives that shift dimensions (knowledge, method, morality). Verification / Alternative check: Substitute in context: “prefer ambiguity to clarity” is a standard collocation in commentary on poetry, validating the choice as idiomatic and conceptually tight. Why Other Options Are Wrong: certainty: About confidence in truth, not interpretive transparency. rationality: About reasoning norms; not the antonym of ambiguity. perversity: A moral/behavioral term; unrelated to meaning multiplicity. Common Pitfalls: Confusing clarity (communication) with certainty (epistemic status). A poem can be clear yet uncertain in argument, and ambiguous yet rationally argued. Final Answer: clarity

Question 17

Antonym – Choose the option that best expresses the opposite meaning of the highlighted word in the sentence below. Sentence: In ancient India, scholars had no interest in political power or “material” growth. Target word: material (meaning in conte…

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Material, in value-discourse, denotes worldly or wealth-related pursuits. The sentence contrasts scholarly interests with political power and material growth; we must pick the antonym that points to non-worldly, inner, or transcendent pursuits typically associated with learning or asceticism in historical contexts. Given Data / Assumptions: Target sense: material = worldly/temporal/wealth-driven. Context: interests of ancient scholars. Options: internal, spiritual, psychic, celestial. Concept / Approach: In standard antonym pairs, material ↔ spiritual is the established opposition: material goods vs spiritual values. Internal is anatomical/positional; psychic relates to mind/paranormal claims; celestial refers to the heavens. Only spiritual cleanly reverses the worldly focus of material in socio-cultural discourse. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Fix the contextual sense of material (worldly wealth/power).Step 2: Retrieve the conventional opposite set: spiritual values/aims.Step 3: Choose spiritual as the antonym.Step 4: Eliminate options that shift the semantic domain (location, paranormal, astronomy). Verification / Alternative check: Common collocations—material prosperity vs spiritual fulfillment—confirm this as a stock opposition across religious and philosophical texts. Why Other Options Are Wrong: internal: Opposes external, not material. psychic: Vague/occult overtones; not a standard antonym. celestial: Contrasts terrestrial; not the value-laden opposite of material. Common Pitfalls: Choosing celestial due to “non-earthly” feel. The sentence is about values and pursuits; spiritual captures that axis, not astronomical location. Final Answer: spiritual

Question 18

Antonym – Choose the option that best expresses the opposite meaning of the highlighted word in the sentence below. Sentence: The atmosphere in that desolate place looked “ominous.” Target word: ominous (meaning: threatening, suggestive of bad outco…

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Ominous describes a sign or atmosphere that portends trouble or bad outcomes. The antonym should convey positive signs or good fortune. In evaluative language about signs/portents, the conventional opposite is auspicious (promising success), though favorable and encouraging are near-opposites depending on context. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: ominous = foreboding, threatening. Domain: signs/portents/atmosphere. Plausible opposites include auspicious and favorable. Concept / Approach: Choose the antonym that mirrors the same “omen/portent” register. Auspicious is the established lexical opposite to ominous in discussions of omens, ceremonies, and beginnings. Pleasant describes personal feeling; encouraging relates to morale; favorable is broad but less specifically “omen-like.” Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Fix the register: omen/portent vocabulary.Step 2: Retrieve the stock antonym pair: ominous ↔ auspicious.Step 3: Select auspicious as most precise.Step 4: Note that favorable/encouraging are weaker paraphrases, not exact lexical opposites. Verification / Alternative check: Dictionary antonym lists pair ominous with auspicious and propitious; both mean promising success, validating this choice. Why Other Options Are Wrong: pleasant: Affects mood/comfort, not omen status. encouraging: Boosts morale; not a set antonym for ominous. favorable: Broadly positive but less precise than auspicious for omens. Common Pitfalls: Picking any positive adjective. For antonyms, match the register and semantic field; “auspicious” does that best here. Final Answer: auspicious

Question 19

Antonym – Choose the option that best expresses the opposite meaning of the highlighted word in the sentence below. Sentence: Like poverty, “affluence” can sometimes create its own problems. Target word: affluence (meaning: great wealth; abundance o…

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Affluence denotes wealth or material abundance. The task is to pick its opposite. In socio-economic vocabulary, the standard antonym is indigence or poverty, referring to extreme financial hardship or deprivation. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: affluence = wealth. We need a direct opposite in the wealth–poverty spectrum. Options include both a synonym and unrelated affective terms. Concept / Approach: Select the antonym along the same economic axis. Indigence is the formal word for extreme poverty. Opulence is a synonym (luxury, lavish display). Sorrow and exuberance refer to emotions, not finances, so they are off-axis for antonymy here. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Establish the domain: economic condition.Step 2: Locate the opposite pole: poverty/indigence.Step 3: Choose indigence as the antonym.Step 4: Reject opulence (synonym) and affective distractors. Verification / Alternative check: Rephrase with opposite: “Like poverty, indigence can create its own problems” keeps the socio-economic frame and inverts affluence properly. Why Other Options Are Wrong: opulence: Synonym of affluence; not opposite. sorrow: Emotion; not an economic state. exuberance: High energy/enthusiasm; unrelated to wealth. Common Pitfalls: Picking opulence due to “big word” bias. Synonyms are common distractors in antonym questions—always check the axis. Final Answer: indigence

Question 20

Antonym – Choose the option that best expresses the opposite meaning of the highlighted word/phrase in the sentence below. Sentence: The atmosphere in the institute he had newly joined was “congenial to” research. Target phrase: congenial to (meanin…

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Congenial to means well-suited, agreeable, or favorable for a purpose. The sentence asserts that the institute’s environment supported research; we must pick a phrase that expresses the opposite—an environment that does not suit or support research aims. Given Data / Assumptions: Target phrase: congenial to = suitable/agreeable to. Domain: fit or suitability for research. Options: several negative adjectives with different shades of meaning. Concept / Approach: Select the antonym that inverts suitability itself, not merely comfort or pleasantness. Unsuitable for explicitly reverses suitability, making it the most direct opposite of congenial to in a purpose-fit context. Disagreeable/unpleasant focus on personal feelings; inconvenient concerns ease, not intrinsic fit. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Fix the key sense: “fit for a purpose.”Step 2: Prefer antonyms that negate fitness—“unsuitable for.”Step 3: Discard options centered on comfort (disagreeable/unpleasant) or logistics (inconvenient).Step 4: Confirm that “unsuitable for research” is idiomatic and precise. Verification / Alternative check: Replace in sentence: “was unsuitable for research” perfectly reverses the original claim and maintains formal tone. Why Other Options Are Wrong: disagreeable for: Emphasizes dislike, not lack of fit. inconvenient for: About practical hassle; environment could still be suitable. unpleasant for: About discomfort, not purpose mismatch. Common Pitfalls: Equating “pleasant/unpleasant” with “suitable/unsuitable.” Suitability is about enabling the goal; it is distinct from comfort. Final Answer: unsuitable for

Antonyms Questions