In the following sentence, there is an underlined word and one gap. From the list of words lettered A to D…

Analyze the question

The question asks for the word that is most nearly opposite in meaning to "insolent" and that also fits the gap in the sentence.

Explain the concept

"Insolent" means rude, disrespectful, or cheeky, especially toward someone in authority or someone older. It describes how a person behaves toward other people.

Its antonym should therefore describe polite, deferential behavior toward others.

Go through the options

• A. cowardly: means lacking courage. It has nothing to do with rudeness, so it is wrong.
• B. respectful: means showing regard and politeness toward others. This is the direct opposite of insolent (disrespectful, rude).
• C. humble: means having a low view of one's own importance. It is the opposite of proud or arrogant, not of rude. It is close but not exact.
• D. modest: means not boastful about one's abilities or achievements. It is the opposite of boastful or vain, not of rude.

Solution

The sentence is: "Bola is insolent whereas Ade is __."

"Whereas" signals contrast. The contrast with insolent (disrespectful) is respectful. Humble and modest relate to pride and boasting, which is a different quality from rudeness toward others.

Answer: B. respectful

Tip: In antonym questions, match the exact aspect of meaning. "Insolent" is about rudeness toward others, so look for the word about politeness (respectful). Humble and modest are tempting because they are "good character" words, but they oppose arrogance and boasting, not rudeness. WASSCE often places such near-synonyms as distractors.