WAEC 2021 English Language · Question 37

He became really disheartened when he heard the news.

Question

choose the word or group of words that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word as it is used in the sentence. He became really disheartened when he heard the news.

In the original paper part of this question is underlined. The underline isn't shown here: see the explanation below.

A.defamed
B.dishevelled
C.depressed
D.disturbed

Answer: C. depressed

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Step 1: Analyze the question The underlined word is disheartened. We need the option closest in meaning to it in this sentence: "He became really disheartened when he heard the news."

Step 2: Explain the concept "Disheartened" comes from dis- (to remove) + heart (courage, hope, spirit). To be disheartened means to lose hope, confidence or enthusiasm, and to feel discouraged or downcast.

Step 3: Check each option

A. defamed: means to damage someone's reputation by false statements. This has nothing to do with feelings.
B. dishevelled: means untidy or messy, usually of hair or clothes. This is about appearance, not emotion.
C. depressed: means low in spirits, sad and discouraged. This is very close to "disheartened."
D. disturbed: means troubled, worried or interrupted. It is close in some ways, but it suggests anxiety or disruption rather than loss of hope or courage.

Step 4: Answer Hearing bad news and losing hope or spirit fits depressed best.

Tip: Break words into parts. Dis- + heart = "take away heart/courage," so look for a word about lost spirit, such as depressed, discouraged or dejected. Also watch for look-alike distractors: defamed, dishevelled and disturbed all begin with "d" but have different meanings.

AI can make mistakes. Report anything that looks wrong.