Question 1

Antonym – Choose the option that best expresses the opposite meaning of the highlighted word in the sentence below. Sentence: Dinesh could manage his family “satisfactorily” with his “meager” income. Target word (focus on income descriptor): meager …

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: The key adjective is meager, describing the size of Dinesh’s income. Meager means scanty or insufficient. The antonym must assert enoughness or sufficiency of income. Among the options, adequate is the standard opposite along the sufficiency axis. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: meager = insufficient, scant. Context: income/resources. We need a word expressing sufficiency, not extravagance or unrelated qualities. Concept / Approach: Antonym selection should flip insufficiency to sufficiency. Adequate means sufficient for a purpose or need. Choices like fabulous (extraordinarily good/large) overshoot into hyperbole rather than serving as a measured opposite; continuous and hard are unrelated to amount. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Anchor the dimension: quantity/sufficiency of income.Step 2: Reverse insufficiency → sufficiency.Step 3: Select adequate.Step 4: Exclude unrelated or hyperbolic distractors. Verification / Alternative check: Substitution: “his adequate income” is the minimal opposite of “his meager income,” preserving the economic register without exaggeration. Why Other Options Are Wrong: continuous: Describes duration, not amount. fabulous: Hyperbolic praise; not the calibrated antonym of meager. hard: Describes difficulty; off-axis. Common Pitfalls: Picking fabulous because it “sounds” opposite. True antonyms reverse the same scale; adequate fits the sufficiency scale directly. Final Answer: adequate

Question 2

Antonym – Choose the option that best expresses the opposite meaning of the highlighted word in the sentence below. Sentence: His short but pointed speech was “applauded” by all sections of the audience. Target word: applauded (meaning: praised, app…

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Applauded means praised or received with approval. The question asks for the opposite attitude from listeners or observers. The precise antonym is disapproved (expressed a negative judgment), which directly inverts the evaluative stance of the audience. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: applauded = praised/approved. Context: audience reaction to a speech. We need a verb showing the reverse evaluation. Concept / Approach: Map evaluation polarity: positive reception ↔ negative reception. Disapproved negates the value judgment cleanly. Misunderstood concerns comprehension, not evaluation; praised and welcomed are synonyms, not opposites. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify evaluation axis (approval vs disapproval).Step 2: Select the opposite pole: disapproved.Step 3: Eliminate synonyms (praised, welcomed) and orthogonal terms (misunderstood).Step 4: Confirm idiomaticness: “the speech was disapproved by …” works, though “met with disapproval” is even more idiomatic; the antonymic idea stands. Verification / Alternative check: Rephrase: “was met with disapproval by all sections” is the natural opposite of “was applauded by all sections,” validating the selection. Why Other Options Are Wrong: misunderstood: About clarity/comprehension, not approval. praised: Same meaning as applauded. welcomed: Another positive reception term. Common Pitfalls: Confusing negative comprehension (misunderstood) with negative evaluation (disapproved). These are distinct dimensions. Final Answer: disapproved

Question 3

English Vocabulary — Antonym (choose the word opposite in meaning to the highlighted word). Sentence: I thought about her a lot during the following months.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Antonym questions test your control over word relations in real sentences. Here, the key word is “following,” used in a time expression: “the following months.” You need the option that most naturally reverses this temporal idea. Understanding such pairs improves comprehension of reports, histories, and project timelines where time references are frequent. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word in context: “following” (as in months that come after a given point). We want the opposite meaning within the same temporal domain. Options: succeeding, proceeding, preceding, receding. Concept / Approach: “Following” in time means “subsequent” or “coming after.” The precise opposite is “preceding,” meaning “coming before.” While several distractors look similar, only one reverses the timeline relative to a reference point. Focus on standard collocations: “the following month(s)” versus “the preceding month(s).” Step-by-Step Solution: Identify sense: following = subsequent, after.Map the opposite: preceding = prior, before.Evaluate distractors: “succeeding” = following; “proceeding” relates to moving forward or legal proceedings; “receding” concerns moving back/away spatially (not a temporal pair here).Select “preceding” as the time-opposite of “following.” Verification / Alternative check: Substitute into the sentence: “I thought about her a lot during the preceding months.” This flips the time reference while staying idiomatic. Compare with “succeeding months,” which keeps the original meaning and thus cannot be an antonym. Why Other Options Are Wrong: succeeding: Synonym of “following,” not its opposite. proceeding: Either a verb (to proceed) or a noun (legal proceeding), not an antonym of a temporal adjective here. receding: Spatial/visual retreat; not the standard temporal opposite. Common Pitfalls: Choosing by surface form (suffix “-ing”) or phonetic similarity. Always match the semantic category—here, calendar-time reference. Remember common textbook pairs: “subsequent/following” ↔ “previous/preceding.” Final Answer: preceding

Question 4

English Vocabulary — Antonym (choose the word opposite in meaning to the highlighted word). Sentence: His interpretation of the poem is superficial.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: In literary criticism, “superficial” comments are shallow: they touch only the surface of meaning. Antonym questions expect you to flip that evaluative dimension. The opposite of shallow analysis is deep, insightful engagement with layers of meaning—precisely what “profound” conveys in academic and everyday usage. Given Data / Assumptions: Target adjective: superficial = shallow, cursory, not in-depth. Domain: interpretation/analysis of poetry. Options: mysterious, difficult, profound, mystical. Concept / Approach: We must reverse the depth axis. “Profound” means deep and far-reaching in insight. Words like “mysterious” or “mystical” change the axis from depth to obscurity/spirituality, and “difficult” targets ease, not depth. Therefore, only “profound” functions as a true antonym in this evaluative frame. Step-by-Step Solution: Clarify the evaluative trait: superficial ↔ profound (shallow ↔ deep).Check collocation: “superficial interpretation” is standard; “profound interpretation” is its natural opposite in criticism.Eliminate distractors that shift dimensions (mystery, complexity).Select “profound.” Verification / Alternative check: Replace in sentence: “His interpretation of the poem is profound.” This reads as a direct reversal. By contrast, “mysterious” would mean the interpretation is obscure, not necessarily deep; “difficult” says it is hard to understand, which could still be superficial in content. Why Other Options Are Wrong: mysterious: Suggests hiddenness, not depth of analysis. difficult: Concerns ease of understanding, not analytical depth. mystical: Relates to spirituality; off-axis for literary depth. Common Pitfalls: Confusing “hard to understand” with “deep.” An analysis can be difficult yet superficial if it lacks substance. Always match the exact evaluative dimension asked by the stem. Final Answer: profound

Question 5

English Vocabulary — Antonym (choose the word opposite in meaning to the highlighted word). Correct the sentence and then answer. Sentence (corrected for clarity): The chairman rebuked the accounts officer for not supervising the work of his subordi…

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: The sentence describes managerial feedback to an “accounts officer.” The focal word “rebuked” means “criticized sharply” or “reprimanded.” Antonym items ask you to choose the word that most directly reverses that action—here, an expression of approval or commendation. Such word pairs are common in HR reports and performance reviews. Given Data / Assumptions: Target verb: rebuked = reprimanded, scolded. Context: failure to supervise subordinates properly. Options: received, awarded, invited, praised. Concept / Approach: The opposite of a reprimand is praise/commendation. Among the options, only “praised” directly flips the illocutionary force of “rebuked.” The others denote unrelated actions (getting something, being asked, being welcomed) rather than reversing negative feedback to positive endorsement. Step-by-Step Solution: Define base term: rebuke = criticize severely.Identify counter-speech act: praise = express approval.Check options: “praised” uniquely matches the counteraction; “received/awarded/invited” do not address feedback polarity.Choose “praised.” Verification / Alternative check: Substitute: “The chairman praised the accounts officer …” This produces a meaning directly opposite to the original reprimand and remains idiomatic in workplace narratives. Why Other Options Are Wrong: received: Transitive past of “receive”; does not oppose rebuke. awarded: Bestowing an award; unrelated to reprimand. invited: Requesting presence/participation; not an antonym. Common Pitfalls: Picking a generally positive word that is not the speech-act opposite. In antonym tasks, reverse the core function (criticism ↔ commendation), not just the sentiment. Final Answer: praised

Question 6

English Vocabulary — Antonym (choose the word opposite in meaning to the highlighted word). Sentence (corrected): It is one of the pernicious customs prevailing in society.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: “Pernicious” is formal vocabulary often found in essays and editorials, meaning “highly harmful” or “destructive.” The sentence evaluates a social custom negatively. The antonym must therefore signal the opposite evaluative judgment: something good or helpful rather than harmful. Given Data / Assumptions: Target adjective: pernicious = harmful, injurious. Domain: social customs and their effects. Options: permanent, beneficial, parochial, dangerous. Concept / Approach: We must reverse harmfulness. “Beneficial” means producing good results; hence it directly counters “pernicious.” Do not be distracted by look-alikes or contextually close words. “Permanent” concerns duration, not valence; “parochial” means narrow or provincial; “dangerous” is a near-synonym of harmful, not an opposite. Step-by-Step Solution: Extract core meaning: pernicious = damaging/harmful.Find antonym on same evaluative axis: beneficial.Reject off-axis adjectives (time-scope, ideology).Select “beneficial.” Verification / Alternative check: Paraphrase: “one of the beneficial customs” directly flips the stance and remains idiomatic. The sentence still reads naturally with this replacement, confirming it as the correct antonymic counterpart. Why Other Options Are Wrong: permanent: Duration, not goodness/badness. parochial: Narrow in outlook; unrelated to harmfulness. dangerous: Synonymous with harmful; not an antonym. Common Pitfalls: Choosing “permanent” because it contrasts superficially (temporary vs. permanent). Antonym tasks demand reversal along the concept actually tested—in this case, effect/valence, not time. Final Answer: beneficial

Question 7

English Vocabulary — Antonym (choose the word opposite in meaning to the highlighted word). Sentence: He was asked to accelerate the pace of work.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Operational directives frequently use motion metaphors such as “accelerate” (speed up) and “slacken” (slow down, reduce intensity). The question asks for the antonym of “accelerate” when talking about work pace. Recognizing these verb pairs is crucial for precisely following instructions in professional settings. Given Data / Assumptions: Target verb: accelerate = increase speed, hasten. Context: pace of work. Options: supervise, slacken, control, check. Concept / Approach: An antonym must invert speed. “Slacken” means to make slower or less intense, so it is the direct opposite in this collocation. “Control” and “check” can sometimes imply limiting, but they are broader and do not specifically mean “slow down” as a precise antonym here. “Supervise” changes the action entirely to oversight, not speed. Step-by-Step Solution: Define base: accelerate = speed up.Identify exact counteraction: slacken = slow down, ease off.Eliminate broad/irrelevant verbs (supervise/control/check).Choose “slacken.” Verification / Alternative check: Substitute: “He was asked to slacken the pace of work.” This yields the expected opposite directive and is idiomatic in HR or production memos. Why Other Options Are Wrong: supervise: Oversight, not speed. control: Could include speeding up or slowing down; not a strict antonym. check: To stop/hold back; may halt rather than simply reduce pace, and is not the set lexical opposite. Common Pitfalls: Choosing a generally “restrictive” word instead of the exact speed antonym. Precision matters: accelerate ↔ slacken/decelerate. Final Answer: slacken

Question 8

English Vocabulary — Antonym (choose the word opposite in meaning to the highlighted word). Sentence: The commission took two years to go through the massive collection of files and documents before preparing its report.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: “Massive collection” emphasizes very large quantity or extent. The antonym should oppose magnitude/abundance in this noun phrase context. Distinguishing quantity/extent from weight or duration helps you avoid common traps in vocabulary tests and real-world reading of audits or archival notes. Given Data / Assumptions: Target adjective: massive = very large in size/extent/quantity (in this collocation). Noun it modifies: collection of files and documents (count/extent, not physical mass alone). Options: meager, heavy, light, short. Concept / Approach: For collections, the opposite of “massive” is “meager” (scanty, too small in amount). “Light” primarily contrasts weight; “short” contrasts length/time; “heavy” is near-synonymous with massive in general emphasis. Therefore, “meager” is the precise antonym in this informational context. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify dimension being described: quantity/extent.Pick antonym on that dimension: meager = scant/sparse.Reject misaligned contrasts (weight “light,” duration “short”).Answer with “meager.” Verification / Alternative check: Replace: “the meager collection of files …” This shifts meaning cleanly and idiomatically, proving the antonymic relation in context. Why Other Options Are Wrong: heavy: Reinforces largeness or burden; not opposite. light: Weight-based contrast, not about count/extent here. short: Time/length contrast; wrong dimension. Common Pitfalls: Letting everyday weight sense override the textual clue (“collection” → amount). When choosing antonyms, lock onto the dimension the noun phrase highlights. Final Answer: meager

Question 9

English Vocabulary — Antonym (choose the word opposite in meaning to the highlighted word). Sentence (corrected): He is the most prudent person I have ever come across.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: “Prudent” characterizes someone who is careful, wise, and forethoughtful, especially in risk-taking and decision-making. The antonym should therefore indicate rashness or poor judgment. Such pairs are common in ethics, investing, and leadership assessments where risk appetite and caution are contrasted. Given Data / Assumptions: Target adjective: prudent = careful, cautious, judicious. Context: general character assessment. Options: shortsighted, reckless, inconsiderate, injudicious. Concept / Approach: Two candidates directly oppose prudence: “reckless” (rash, heedless of risk) and “injudicious” (showing poor judgment). Of these, “reckless” is the sharper, everyday opposite of prudent in risk contexts, while “injudicious” is bookish and not always perfect antonymy in tone. Hence “reckless” best flips prudence in common usage. Step-by-Step Solution: Anchor meaning: prudent ↔ cautious/wise.Pick opposite emphasizing rashness: reckless.Rule out side-tracks: “shortsighted” targets limited foresight (not necessarily rash), “inconsiderate” targets lack of regard for others, not risk judgment.Answer with “reckless.” Verification / Alternative check: Substitute: “He is the most reckless person …” This neatly inverts the trait being praised. While “injudicious” also opposes “judicious,” it is less idiomatic as the primary antonym to “prudent.” Why Other Options Are Wrong: shortsighted: Limited long-term view, but someone can be prudent yet shortsighted in scope. inconsiderate: Social insensitivity, different axis. injudicious: Bookish opposite of judicious; “reckless” is the clearer counter to “prudent.” Common Pitfalls: Equating prudence only with long-term planning and picking “shortsighted.” Prudence is primarily about careful judgment and avoidance of undue risk, best opposed by “reckless.” Final Answer: reckless

Question 10

English Vocabulary — Antonym (choose the word opposite in meaning to the highlighted word). Sentence: According to a great philosopher, magnanimity in a man implies many other qualities.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: “Magnanimity” denotes greatness of spirit—generosity, nobility, and willingness to forgive. Philosophical and moral essays often pair this with virtues like benevolence and humility. The antonym must negate generosity of spirit, pointing instead to pettiness or smallness of mind and heart. Given Data / Assumptions: Target noun: magnanimity = generosity, nobility of spirit. Context: general moral characterization. Options: enmity, meanness, jealousy, poverty. Concept / Approach: The opposite of magnanimity is not merely hostility, envy, or lack of money; it is a moral-smallness that refuses to give or forgive. “Meanness” captures this petty, ungenerous disposition, forming a natural antonymic pair in ethics vocabulary. Step-by-Step Solution: Fix meaning: magnanimity ↔ great-souled generosity.Find moral inverse: meanness = stinginess/pettiness.Discard unrelated states: enmity (hostility), jealousy (envy), poverty (economic condition).Choose “meanness.” Verification / Alternative check: Contrast in sentence: “magnanimity … implies … qualities” vs. “meanness … implies the opposite traits (pettiness, refusal to forgive).” The conceptual field aligns cleanly as antonyms in moral philosophy. Why Other Options Are Wrong: enmity: Opposite of friendship, not generosity. jealousy: Emotional insecurity, not the antonym of generosity of spirit. poverty: Economic lack; orthogonal to moral character. Common Pitfalls: Picking “enmity” because it sounds negative. Always anchor to the specific virtue/vise axis (generosity ↔ meanness), not any negative emotion or condition. Final Answer: meanness

Question 11

English Vocabulary — Antonym (choose the word opposite in meaning to the highlighted word). Sentence: Nothing has been organised properly and confusion seems inevitable.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: “Inevitable” means certain to happen. In planning and risk language, it signals an outcome that cannot be avoided. The antonym must negate certainty. Although “avoidable” would be an even tighter opposite, among the provided options the best available antonym is “uncertain,” which directly counters the idea of inevitability by removing certainty about occurrence. Given Data / Assumptions: Target adjective: inevitable = certain, bound to occur. Context: organizational confusion predicted to happen. Options given: inevident, inefficient, ineligible, uncertain. Concept / Approach: In probability terms, inevitable ≈ probability near 1; uncertain ≈ probability unknown or significantly less than certain. Other choices belong to different semantic fields (visibility, competence, qualification) and do not oppose certainty. Hence “uncertain” is the most appropriate antonym from the list provided. Step-by-Step Solution: Interpret “inevitable” as certainty of occurrence.Scan options for certainty-negation: “uncertain.”Discard unrelated adjectives: inevident (rare/ill-formed for “not evident”), inefficient (low efficiency), ineligible (not qualified).Choose “uncertain.” Verification / Alternative check: Replace in the sentence: “confusion seems uncertain.” This explicitly denies certainty. While “avoidable” would better match causal preventability, it is not available; therefore “uncertain” is correct within the given set. Why Other Options Are Wrong: inevident: Nonstandard/rare; not an antonym of inevitable. inefficient: About performance quality, not certainty. ineligible: Qualification status; wrong axis. Common Pitfalls: Letting desirability confuse antonymy. The opposite of a certain outcome is an uncertain one, irrespective of whether the result is good or bad. Final Answer: uncertain

Question 12

English Vocabulary — Antonym (choose the word opposite in meaning to the highlighted word). Sentence: What he tells me confirms my ideas.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: In argumentation, “confirm” means to support or provide evidence for a claim. Its antonym is a verb that undermines or shows a claim to be false. Among common pairs, “confirm” ↔ “contradict” or “refute,” depending on nuance. Recognizing these relations is useful in logic, research appraisal, and reading comprehension. Given Data / Assumptions: Target verb: confirms = supports, backs up. Context: statements affecting one’s ideas. Options: strengthens, opposes, contradicts, verifies. Concept / Approach: To reverse confirmation, we need a verb that states the opposite of, or conflicts with, the claim. “Contradicts” does that directly: it asserts incompatibility with what is claimed. “Opposes” can be weaker or about attitudes rather than truth-value. “Strengthens” and “verifies” are near-synonyms of confirm and therefore wrong. Step-by-Step Solution: Anchor meaning: confirm = support/validate.Find direct counteraction: contradict = assert the opposite of, conflict with.Eliminate near-synonyms (strengthens/verifies) and vague counter-word (“opposes”).Choose “contradicts.” Verification / Alternative check: Substitute: “What he tells me contradicts my ideas.” This inverts the epistemic relation between testimony and belief and is fully idiomatic. Why Other Options Are Wrong: strengthens: Reinforces; synonym-like to confirm. opposes: Could indicate disagreement, but not specifically logical inconsistency. verifies: Provides proof; synonym of confirm in many contexts. Common Pitfalls: Confusing “oppose” (attitude/action) with “contradict” (truth-conditional conflict). In logic-focused language, “contradict” is the precise antonymic action to “confirm.” Final Answer: contradicts

Question 13

English Vocabulary — Antonyms Choose the word that is OPPOSITE in meaning to the highlighted word in the sentence below. Sentence: The actor is well known both for his humility and courage. Target word: humility

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Vocabulary antonym questions assess whether you understand the precise sense of a word and can select the most accurate opposite from closely related choices. In the sentence, the highlighted trait is "humility," a moral quality frequently contrasted with self-importance. Selecting its opposite requires focusing on attitude toward oneself rather than on unrelated virtues like courage or honesty. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: humility. Context: a positive character assessment of an actor. Task: pick the single best antonym, not just any negative or different trait. Concept / Approach: Humility means modesty and a low estimation of one's own importance. Its semantic opposite is "pride" (in the sense of arrogance, haughtiness, or overweening self-regard). While the word "pride" can sometimes have a positive sense (self-respect), in value judgments about personality traits, "pride" typically contrasts with humility by signaling inflated self-importance. Therefore, among the options, "pride" is the crisp antonym that reverses the evaluative polarity of the target term. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Define humility: modest, unassuming attitude; absence of self-aggrandizement.2) Scan choices for a term that flips the same dimension of self-regard.3) "Pride" (in the negative moral sense) directly opposes humility.4) Disqualify options that refer to other character dimensions (e.g., honesty, gentleness) or to performance traits (e.g., determination).5) Confirm that "pride" yields the exact opposite evaluation in the sentence frame. Verification / Alternative check: Substitute the opposite into the sentence: "…well known both for his pride and courage" produces the inverse of the intended compliment and signals an antithetical attitude to humility, validating the selection. Why Other Options Are Wrong: determination: Relates to persistence, not self-regard.honesty: Moral truthfulness; orthogonal to humility.gentleness: Manner of behavior; not antonymous to humility.confidence: Self-belief can coexist with humility; not a direct opposite. Common Pitfalls: Confusing humility with timidity or lack of confidence leads to choosing "confidence" as an opposite, which is incorrect. The correct semantic axis is modesty vs arrogance, not courage vs fear or confidence vs doubt. Final Answer: pride

Question 14

English Vocabulary — Antonyms (Precision with Workplace Traits) Choose the word that is OPPOSITE in meaning to the highlighted adjective in the sentence below. Sentence: The General Manager is quite tactful and handles the workers' union very effect…

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This item evaluates knowledge of precise antonym pairs for interpersonal skill descriptors. In professional settings, "tactful" describes someone skilled at choosing words and actions that avoid giving offense, particularly in delicate negotiations like union matters. Identifying the antonym requires negating that exact interpersonal competency, not merely selecting a generally negative trait. Given Data / Assumptions: Target adjective: tactful (skilled at diplomacy and sensitivity). Domain: workplace labor relations. We must find the single best direct opposite. Concept / Approach: "Tactful" aligns with diplomatic, considerate, and discreet behavior. The clean antonym is "tactless," meaning insensitive or likely to offend because of poor word choice or social judgment. Many distractors are near-synonyms of tactful (diplomatic, prudent, subtle, astute) and should be eliminated by checking whether they increase or decrease the same social-skill dimension. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Map the semantic axis: tactful ↔ tactless.2) Note that diplomatic/prudent/subtle/astute support the tactful profile rather than contradict it.3) Select "tactless" as the only answer that reverses the trait in the sentence's context.4) Confirm with substitution: replacing "tactful" with "tactless" in the sentence reverses the meaning appropriately. Verification / Alternative check: Paraphrase: "The GM is insensitive and mishandles delicate issues" is the natural inverse of "tactful and handles … effectively," showing that "tactless" is the correct antonymic choice. Why Other Options Are Wrong: diplomatic: Synonym; reinforces tact.prudent: Cautious and judicious; supports tact.astute: Perceptive; not opposite.subtle: Fine judgment or nuance; aligns with tact. Common Pitfalls: Choosing a term that merely sounds positive or professional. Antonym questions demand exact reversals along the same semantic dimension, not just a different kind of competence or incompetence. Final Answer: tactless

Question 15

English Vocabulary — Antonyms Choose the word that is OPPOSITE in meaning to the highlighted adjective in the sentence below. Sentence: The error in the newspaper article is incidental. Target word: incidental

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Here, the adjective "incidental" conveys the idea of something occurring by chance or as a minor, non-essential accompaniment. To locate the antonym, we must negate the element of chance and introduce purposeful agency, which guides us to "intentional" rather than to unrelated descriptors like "conventional" or "permissible." Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: incidental (minor, occurring by chance or in connection with something else). Context: an error in a newspaper article. Goal: find the direct opposite that implies purpose or design. Concept / Approach: "Incidental" contrasts with deliberate or planned. "Intentional" explicitly encodes purposefulness and volition, making it the standard antonym. Words like "conventional" (customary), "usual" (common), and "permissible" (allowed) do not reverse chance vs purpose; meanwhile "accidental" is actually a near-synonym of "incidental" in many contexts, not an opposite. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Interpret incidental as unplanned/secondary.2) Identify the negating counterpart: deliberate/intentional.3) Among choices, only "intentional" indicates purpose-driven action.4) Eliminate semantic distractors that change topic (custom, permission, frequency). Verification / Alternative check: Substitute into the sentence: "The error … is intentional" flips the meaning from accidental oversight to purposeful insertion, demonstrating clear antonymy. Why Other Options Are Wrong: conventional: Means customary; unrelated to intention.usual: Frequency descriptor; not an antonym.permissible: About rules/allowance; not about intention.accidental: Near-synonym; same polarity as incidental. Common Pitfalls: Confusing "incidental" with "accidental." Though often related, the antonymic target is purpose vs chance, best captured by "intentional." Final Answer: intentional

Question 16

English Vocabulary — Antonyms (Building/Condition) Choose the word that is OPPOSITE in meaning to the highlighted adjective in the sentence below. Sentence: The club meets on the last Thursday of every month in a dilapidated palace. Target word: dil…

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Describing buildings, "dilapidated" means in disrepair, run-down, or decayed due to age or neglect. A good antonym should describe a structure restored to good condition. This question checks your ability to focus on the condition-of-building axis rather than getting distracted by related but not opposite descriptors (e.g., "furnished"). Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: dilapidated (structural decay/poor condition). Domain: building condition. Need: exact opposite that signals repair/restoration. Concept / Approach: The natural antonym of dilapidated is "renovated" or "restored," both indicating substantial repairs bringing the structure back to sound condition. "Regenerated" can be contextually close in urban planning but is broader; "furnished" only concerns interior furniture, not structural condition; "neglected" and "ruined" are near-synonyms of dilapidated. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Define the condition axis: broken/run-down ↔ repaired/restored.2) Identify "renovated" as the term that directly signals repair.3) Eliminate "furnished" (interior decor only) and "regenerated" (too broad or process-oriented).4) Discard "neglected" and "ruined" as same-polarity terms. Verification / Alternative check: Paraphrase: "…in a renovated palace" is the obvious opposite scenario of "dilapidated palace," confirming the selection. Why Other Options Are Wrong: neglected: Contributes to dilapidation; not opposite.regenerated: Urban-development sense; not a precise antonym here.furnished: About furniture; condition may still be poor.ruined: Stronger synonym of dilapidated. Common Pitfalls: Choosing "furnished" because it sounds positive. Furnishing a decayed building does not fix its structural problems; renovation does. Final Answer: renovated

Question 17

English Vocabulary — Antonyms (Temperament) Choose the word that is OPPOSITE in meaning to the highlighted adjective in the sentence below. Sentence: A friendly dog met us at the farm gate. Target word: friendly

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question asks for the opposite of a temperament descriptor. "Friendly" signals a warm, welcoming, and non-threatening attitude. The best antonym is the term that directly flips social disposition to its antagonistic form, especially apt for describing animals' behavior toward strangers. Given Data / Assumptions: Target adjective: friendly. Domain: animal (dog) temperament at first encounter. We need the single best opposite within behavioral descriptors. Concept / Approach: "Hostile" captures antagonism and potential aggression, providing a clean inversion of "friendly." Other terms like "aloof" (distant) are not necessarily antagonistic; "quiet" concerns noise level; "helpful" and "understanding" are human-centric prosocial traits that do not naturally oppose "friendly" in animal temperament contexts. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Identify the social-affect axis: welcoming ↔ antagonistic.2) Select "hostile" as the direct opposite.3) Eliminate non-antonymous or orthogonal descriptors (quiet, aloof, helpful, understanding).4) Validate by substitution in the sentence. Verification / Alternative check: Replace: "A hostile dog met us at the farm gate" flips the safety implication and is idiomatic, confirming antonymy. Why Other Options Are Wrong: helpful: Human-oriented cooperation; not opposite to friendly in animals.understanding: Empathic trait; not a natural antonym here.quiet: Volume level, not social disposition.aloof: Distant or reserved; could be neutral, not hostile. Common Pitfalls: Equating "not friendly" with "aloof." The true antonym should invert the social stance to its adverse, threatening end—"hostile." Final Answer: hostile

Question 18

English Vocabulary — Antonyms (Style and Display) Choose the word that is OPPOSITE in meaning to the highlighted noun in the sentence below. Sentence: In the interest of one's own reputation, one should avoid ostentation while entertaining friends. …

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: "Ostentation" refers to a showy, pretentious display intended to attract notice. When entertaining, it suggests lavishness and conspicuous expenditure or display. The antonym should indicate restraint and the absence of showiness in style or presentation, i.e., plainness or modest simplicity. Given Data / Assumptions: Target noun: ostentation (showiness, pretentious display). Context: social entertaining and personal reputation. Task: choose the most accurate opposite in this stylistic domain. Concept / Approach: On the axis of display, "ostentation" contrasts with "simplicity" or "modesty." Between the options, "simplicity" directly signals plain, unpretentious style. "Miserliness" misfires: it means unwillingness to spend and is morally loaded; one can be non-ostentatious without being miserly. "Purity" and "innocence" are moral/character notions unrelated to display style; "modesty" is close but typically describes attitude, while the sentence focuses on the manner of entertaining—style and presentation—making "simplicity" the best fit. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Define ostentation: conspicuous, showy display.2) Identify the style opposite: plainness/minimalism = simplicity.3) Compare with alternatives: modesty (attitude) vs simplicity (style).4) Select "simplicity" as the most context-appropriate antonym. Verification / Alternative check: Rephrase: "…one should prefer simplicity while entertaining friends" is the clear inverse of "avoid ostentation," confirming the opposite on the style dimension. Why Other Options Are Wrong: miserliness: Stinginess; not the stylistic opposite of showiness.purity: Moral/ritual sense; unrelated.innocence: Lack of guilt/experience; unrelated.modesty: Close in meaning but more about attitude than style; "simplicity" better matches entertaining style. Common Pitfalls: Equating the opposite of showiness with stinginess. Minimalist style can be generous yet unpretentious; simplicity, not miserliness, captures that idea. Final Answer: simplicity

Question 19

English Vocabulary — Antonyms (Verbs of Evaluation) Choose the word that is OPPOSITE in meaning to the highlighted verb in the sentence below. Sentence: She used to disparage her neighbor every now and then. Target word: disparage

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Verbs like "disparage," "belittle," and "denigrate" all describe expressing a low opinion of someone. The antonym must therefore express high approval or positive evaluation. This question checks your ability to distinguish between true opposites and near-synonyms or just broadly positive actions like "please." Given Data / Assumptions: Target verb: disparage (to speak slightingly of; to deprecate). Context: repeated negative comments about a neighbor. Task: pick the single best opposite meaning. Concept / Approach: The true antonym of "disparage" is "praise" or "commend." Among the options, "praise" is the most direct and conventional opposite. "Belittle" and "denigrate" are synonyms of the target and must be eliminated. "Please" is not an antonym; it means to make someone happy, not to evaluate them positively in discourse. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Define disparage: to devalue verbally.2) Identify discourse-level opposite: to value verbally → praise.3) Eliminate synonyms (belittle, denigrate).4) Discard non-evaluative positive actions (please).5) Confirm that "praise" reverses the sentence's meaning. Verification / Alternative check: Substitute: "She used to praise her neighbor…" conveys the mirror-image behavior of "disparage," validating antonymy. Why Other Options Are Wrong: please: Affective impact, not evaluative speech.belittle: Synonym; same polarity.denigrate: Synonym; same polarity.commend: Also an antonym, but the most conventional single-word opposite in tests is "praise"; we select the best match. Common Pitfalls: Choosing any positive-sounding verb. Only verbs that explicitly express high evaluation are true antonyms of "disparage." Final Answer: praise

Question 20

English Vocabulary — Antonyms (Affect/Emotion) Choose the word that is OPPOSITE in meaning to the highlighted verb in the sentence below. Sentence: The story told by the teacher amused children in the class. Target word: amused

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: "Amuse" denotes causing laughter, pleasure, or light entertainment. To select an antonym, we should reverse the emotional valence to a clearly negative state caused by the same stimulus (the story), not merely a different arousal level or a surprise reaction. This ensures we are contrasting affect in a principled way. Given Data / Assumptions: Target verb: amused (caused enjoyment). Context: children's reaction to a story. We need the best opposite in terms of emotional outcome. Concept / Approach: The most direct antonym of "amused" in an emotional-polarity sense is "saddened" (caused sorrow). "Frightened" changes the emotion to fear; "astonished" changes it to surprise; "jolted" suggests shock. "Bored" indicates low arousal and lack of interest; while sometimes contrasted with "amused," it is not a pure polarity flip. In evaluative tests, "saddened" is the strongest antonym because it reverses positive to negative affect. Step-by-Step Solution: 1) Identify the valence: amused = positive affect.2) Choose an opposite with negative affect caused by the same stimulus.3) "Saddened" reverses enjoyment to unhappiness.4) Eliminate fear/shock/surprise and low-arousal neutrality. Verification / Alternative check: Flip the sentence: "The story … saddened children in the class" reads as a clear emotional opposite of amusement, confirming the choice. Why Other Options Are Wrong: frightened: Fear rather than negative sadness; not a direct opposite.jolted: Sudden shock; not affective polarity.astonished: Surprise; neutral valence.bored: Low arousal; not a strict antonym of delight. Common Pitfalls: Picking "bored" because it often co-occurs with "amused." In rigorous antonym tasks, we seek clear polarity reversal, which "saddened" provides. Final Answer: saddened

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