Pick out the most effective pair of words from the given options to make the…
2023
Pick out the most effective pair of words from the given options to make the sentence meaningfully complete.
The Prison guards degraded themselves with their _____ and _____ treatment of the prisoners.
- A.
differential/regal
- B.
cavern/fantabulous
- C.
surreptitious/overt
- D.
inhumane/ignominious
Attempted by 16 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Answer: inhumane and ignominious
Meanings:
inhumane — cruel; lacking compassion.
ignominious — shameful; deserving public disgrace.
Why they fit: The sentence means the prison guards degraded themselves by treating prisoners in a cruel and disgraceful way. "Inhumane" captures the cruelty and lack of compassion, and "ignominious" captures the shameful, disgraceful aspect of their behaviour.
Why the other choices are incorrect:
differential / regal — "differential" means showing a difference; "regal" means royal. Neither word describes abusive or degrading behaviour.
cavern / fantabulous — "cavern" is a noun (a cave) and unrelated to conduct; "fantabulous" is an informal positive adjective meaning excellent. These do not convey cruelty or disgrace.
surreptitious / overt — these are opposites (secret vs. open). The pairing is contradictory, and "surreptitious" (secret) does not express the idea of degrading, shameful behaviour in the same way as the correct pair.