Mrs. Akunilo looks anaemic today?

Analyze the question: You are asked for the antonym (opposite) of "anaemic."

Explain the concept: Anaemic (or anemic) describes someone who has anaemia, a shortage of red blood cells or haemoglobin. An anaemic person looks pale, weak, feeble, and lacking in vitality. In general usage it means weak, pale, and lacking energy.

Solution:

• A. strange: unusual. This has no link to health, so it is not an opposite.
• B. sick: this is close in meaning to anaemic, so it is a synonym, not an antonym.
• C. weak: this is also a synonym, since anaemic people look weak.
• D. strong: this is the opposite of weak and feeble, and it describes someone full of energy and vitality, which is the reverse of anaemic.

Only option D reverses the meaning of the word.

Answer: D. strong

Tip: In antonym questions, first work out the meaning of the word. Then eliminate any options that are synonyms, because examiners often include them as distractors (here, "sick" and "weak"). Related words to remember: anaemic means pale, weak, feeble, and its opposite is robust, strong, vigorous.