The word "recalcitrant" is given in bold. Choose the option in which the pair of words correctly represents antonyms of "recalcitrant".

Introduction / Context:
This question examines your understanding of the word "recalcitrant". You are given four options, each a pair of words, and asked to select the pair that has the correct relationship with "recalcitrant" as synonyms, antonyms, or a synonym and an antonym. To answer, you need to know that "recalcitrant" refers to someone who is stubbornly uncooperative or resistant to authority or control.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The target word is "recalcitrant".
• Each option contains two words.
• The correct pair must have a clear semantic relationship with "recalcitrant".
• The test may expect a pair of antonyms of the given word.

Concept / Approach:
"Recalcitrant" describes a person or group that is resistant to authority, difficult to manage, or stubbornly uncooperative. Antonyms for "recalcitrant" would be words like "amenable", "compliant", or "docile", which describe someone who is willing to cooperate or easy to control. To find the correct option, we look for words that express willingness to obey or be guided, rather than resistance.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Fix the meaning of "recalcitrant" as stubbornly uncooperative and resistant. Step 2: Check option A, "Peculiar, Convivial". "Peculiar" means strange or unusual, and "convivial" means friendly or sociable. Neither directly relates to obedience or resistance. Step 3: Check option B, "Amenable, Docile". "Amenable" means open and responsive to suggestion, willing to cooperate. "Docile" means easily taught, led, or managed, submissive. Step 4: Check option C, "Taciturn, Withering". "Taciturn" means quiet, reserved in speech, and "withering" can mean scornful or causing to dry up. These are unrelated to obedience or resistance. Step 5: Check option D, "Voluble, Turgid". "Voluble" means talkative, and "turgid" means swollen or pompous in style. Again, they do not express compliance or stubbornness. Step 6: Conclude that option B provides two clear antonyms of "recalcitrant", making it the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Imagine a sentence: "The student was recalcitrant and refused to follow instructions." If we replace "recalcitrant" with "amenable", the meaning flips: "The student was amenable and easily followed instructions." Similarly, replacing it with "docile" also gives the opposite sense. This confirms that both "amenable" and "docile" are suitable antonyms. No other option provides such a direct and clear contrast with the original word.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A is about personality traits that do not address obedience or resistance. A person can be peculiar yet very obedient. Option C focuses on how much someone talks or on a harsh effect, which is not tied to cooperation or defiance. Option D deals with talkativeness and pompous style, again unrelated to the specific concept of stubborn non cooperation. Because these options do not mirror or oppose the meaning of "recalcitrant", they cannot be accepted as correct.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes mistake any strong sounding or negative word for a synonym or antonym of another negative word. However, nuance matters. "Recalcitrant" specifically concerns attitude toward authority and willingness to comply, not general unpleasantness or strangeness. Therefore, you should always connect words to their precise definitions, rather than to a vague sense of negativity or sophistication. Building precise word associations is the key to scoring well in advanced vocabulary questions.

Final Answer:
The pair that correctly gives antonyms of "recalcitrant" is Amenable, Docile.