Question

Choose the right word to complete the sentence:
He was treated like a _ _ _ _ and cast out of his community.
a) Ascetic
b) Prodigy
c) Prodigal
d) Pariah
e) Tyro

Answer 1

Hint: To ‘cast out’ someone from a community means to throw them out or forcibly expel them because of the social structure or community laws.

Complete answer:
 Option a ‘ascetic’ refers to someone who renounces all material comforts and leads a life without physical pleasures. There is no reason why an ascetic would be cast out. Thus, option ‘a’ is incorrect.
Option b ‘prodigy’ refers to someone who is young and endowed with exceptional or extraordinary qualities or abilities. To be a prodigy is a positive thing. There is no reason why a person who is considered a prodigy would be an outcast from a community. Thus, option b is invalid.
Option c ‘prodigal’ refers to profuse or extravagant expenditure. This is not the required word that we are looking for. Thus, the option ‘c’ is incorrect.
Option d ‘pariah’ refers to a person who is avoided or not accepted by a social group. For example, “He was treated as a social pariah.” This word ‘pariah’ holds a similar meaning to the word ‘outcast’. Thus, the required answer is option d ‘pariah’.
Option e ‘tyro’ refers to someone who is a beginner in learning something or someone who is a novice. This is not the required word. Thus, option ‘e’ is incorrect.

Note:
Through the meaning of words given to us, we found the one that fits the sentence as per the context. “Pariah” refers to someone who is an outcast. Option ‘a’ and option ‘b’ cannot be expelled or treated like outcasts as the first one is someone who renounces physical pleasures. At the same time, the latter is a person who is uniquely and extraordinarily blessed.