Choose the word which best expresses the meaning of the underlined word in the…

Correct word: deigned

Meaning: to do something that one regards as beneath one's dignity; to stoop to do something.

Why this fits:

• The sentence "The Minister condescended to accept our invitation" implies he accepted, but did so in a patronizing or reluctant way.

• "Deigned" captures both the action (accepted) and the attitude (seeing the action as beneath him).

Why the other choices are incorrect:

• "Felt happy" describes an emotional state and does not convey the patronizing or reluctant attitude implied by "condescended."

• "Declined" means refused, which is the opposite of accepting, so it does not fit the sentence.

• "Agreed" simply means accepted and misses the nuance of superiority or reluctance that "condescended" implies.

Paraphrase: The minister accepted the invitation, but did so as if it was beneath him.