Directions: In the question, there are four sentences. Each sentence has a…
2026
Directions: In the question, there are four sentences. Each sentence has a pair of words/phrases that are italicised and highlighted. Select the most appropriate words or phrases to form grammatically and syntactically correct sentences. Then, from the options given, choose the best one.
(a) The (A) reticent / (B) taciturn boy doesn't want to mix up with strangers.
(b) The (A) exceptionable / (B) exceptional behaviour of the old choleric has been viewed seriously by everyone concerned.
(c) I am simply (A) uninterested / (B) disinterested in your cock and bull story.
(d) The landlord died intestate leaving the (A) descendants / (B) descendents to settle the property dispute at their own.
Note: each option below is a four-letter code, in the order (a)-(b)-(c)-(d), showing which choice -- A or B -- is grammatically correct for that sentence. For example, the option "AAAA" means the (A) word is the correct choice in every one of the four sentences.
Answer: A. AAAA — Concept: This item tests commonly confused word pairs -- near-synonyms that look or sound alike but differ in meaning or register, so only one member of each…
- A.
AAAA
- B.
BBAA
- C.
ABAA
- D.
ABAB
Attempted by 543 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Concept: This item tests commonly confused word pairs -- near-synonyms that look or sound alike but differ in meaning or register, so only one member of each pair fits a given context. The answer options are coded as four-letter sequences (order a to d); each letter is the correct choice, A or B, for that sentence.
Application: working through each sentence's word pair in turn:
Sentence (a): "reticent" indicates reluctance to speak or to mingle with others, which is exactly the sense needed for "doesn't want to mix up with strangers." "Taciturn" only means habitually untalkative in general, without that specific stranger-avoiding nuance.
Sentence (b): "exceptionable" means objectionable or open to criticism, which matches behaviour that "has been viewed seriously." "Exceptional" means unusually good, the opposite sense.
Sentence (c): "uninterested" means not interested or bored, matching a reaction to a tedious story. "Disinterested" means impartial/unbiased, a different idea entirely.
Sentence (d): "descendants" is the standard spelling for offspring, which is who "their" refers to. "Descendents" is a non-standard spelling and not the accepted noun form.
Cross-check: contrasting each accepted word against its rejected pair-word by meaning:
Sentence | Correct word -- meaning | Rejected word -- meaning |
|---|---|---|
(a) | reticent -- reluctant to speak/mingle, esp. with strangers | taciturn -- habitually silent by nature, no stranger-specific sense |
(b) | exceptionable -- objectionable, open to criticism | exceptional -- remarkably good, outstanding |
(c) | uninterested -- not interested, bored | disinterested -- impartial, unbiased |
(d) | descendants -- offspring (standard spelling) | descendents -- non-standard/incorrect spelling |
Result: every sentence takes its (A) word, so the correct four-letter combination is AAAA -- reticent, exceptionable, uninterested, descendants.
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