Due to old age, mother has become taciturn.

Analyze the question: You need the word opposite in meaning to "taciturn."

Explain the concept: "Taciturn" describes someone who says very little, a person who is habitually silent or uncommunicative. It comes from the Latin tacere, meaning "to be silent." (Think of the word "tacit," meaning unspoken.)

Solution, option by option:

• A. reserved: Means keeping thoughts and feelings to oneself. This is a synonym of taciturn, so it is wrong.
• B. quiet: Means making little noise or speaking little. This is also a synonym, so it is wrong.
• C. cold: Means unfriendly or distant. It is loosely related, not opposite, so it is wrong.
• D. garrulous: Means excessively talkative, always chattering. This is the direct opposite of taciturn.

Sentence check: "Due to old age, mother has become garrulous" makes sense as a contrast: she now talks a great deal instead of staying silent.

Answer: D. garrulous

Exam tip: In "opposite in meaning" questions, the options often include synonyms as traps (here, A and B). First work out the meaning of the underlined word, then eliminate every option that means the same thing. Memory trick: TACIturn sounds like "tacit" (silent), while GARRulous sounds like "gargle" or "gabble" (lots of noise).