From the options, choose the word nearest in meaning to the underline word By working hard, Benjamin outshone his elder brother instead of being ________

Analyze the question

The sentence is: "By working hard, Benjamin outshone his elder brother instead of being ____."

The blank must describe the opposite of "outshone." So the question is really asking: what happens to someone who does NOT outshine another person?

Explain the concept

• Outshone means to be better than, or to shine brighter than, someone else.
• Overshadowed means to be made to seem less important or less successful because of someone else's greater achievement.
• The sentence builds a contrast: Benjamin outshone his brother instead of being overshadowed by him. This is the usual relationship between the two words, because to outshine someone is to overshadow them.

Check each option

• A. overshadowed: This fits. The younger brother could have lived in the elder brother's shadow, but he outshone him instead.
• B. defeated: This suggests a contest or fight. The sentence is not about a battle, so it is less suitable.
• C. demoted: This applies to losing rank at work or school. There is no mention of position or rank here.
• D. submerged: This means covered by water or deeply immersed. It does not fit the context.

Answer

Benjamin worked hard and became better than his elder brother, rather than being overshadowed by him. The correct option is A. overshadowed.

Tip

For questions like this, find the key word (outshone) and look for its natural opposite in context. Outshine and overshadow are a classic pair: the one who outshines casts the shadow, and the other is overshadowed. Also, the question wording asks for "nearest in meaning" but the sentence actually works as a contrast, so always read the whole sentence to see what the blank requires.