While Ade is … , his wife is quite self-effacing.

Step 1: Analyze the question The sentence is "While Ade is __, his wife is quite self-effacing." The word "While" signals a contrast. So the gap needs a word that is opposite in meaning to "self-effacing" and also fits the sentence.

Step 2: Understand the concept "Self-effacing" means modest, not drawing attention to yourself, and not boasting about your abilities or achievements.

The opposite is someone who thinks too highly of himself, who is proud and boastful.

Step 3: Test each option

• A. aggressive: This means forceful or hostile. It is not the direct opposite of modest. A person can be aggressive and still be modest, so it is wrong.
• B. lousy: This means poor in quality. It has no connection with modesty.
• C. conceited: This means excessively proud of oneself. It is the direct opposite of self-effacing and fits the contrast with "his wife is quite self-effacing."
• D. unfriendly: This describes a lack of warmth, not a lack of modesty, so it is not the opposite.

Step 4: Answer The correct option is C. conceited. It is the antonym of "self-effacing" and makes the sentence read correctly: "While Ade is conceited, his wife is quite self-effacing."

Exam tip: In antonym-with-gap questions, look for contrast words such as "while," "but," "although," and "whereas." They tell you the missing word must be the opposite of the underlined word. Also remember that "effacing" comes from "efface," meaning to erase, so a self-effacing person "erases" themselves from the spotlight. The opposite is someone who puts themselves in it, like a conceited person.