Question

Choose the word/ phrase which is opposite in meaning to the italicized bold word/ phrase in the sentence.
The drug will have pernicious effect on your health.
a)beneficial
b)prolonged
c)ruinous
d)pertinent

Answer 1

Hint: Pernicious means having a negative or an unfavorable effect. It is an adjective.

Complete step-by-step answer:

From the hint given to us, we understand the meaning of the italicized bold word, pernicious. We also know that since it is an adjective, it is used to describe the effect of the drug. Now that we have understood the meaning of pernicious, let us analyze the given options in order to find the word that means opposite to it.
a) Beneficial means having a positive or favorable effect. It is an adjective.
For example: Following a healthy routine is beneficial for your health.
We observe that it means the exact opposite of pernicious. Hence, we can conclude that option ‘a’ is the correct answer.
b) Prolonged means lengthy or stretched for a considerable amount of time. It is an adjective.
For example, There was a prolonged silence in the room.
We observe that it does mean the opposite of pernicious. Hence, we can say that option ‘b’ is not the correct answer.
c) Ruinous means having the ability to cause a disaster or being destructive. It is an adjective.
For example, The miscalculated move proved to be ruinous to many
We observe that it does mean the opposite of pernicious. Hence, we can say that option ‘c’ is not the correct answer.
d) Pertinent means having relevance or being applicable to a certain matter. It is an adjective.
For example, One must explore pertinent issues.
We observe that it does mean the opposite of pernicious. Hence, we can say that option ‘d’ is not the correct answer.

Note: Correct meaning of the word must be known in order to find the correct opposite. It should be also kept in mind what the question asks us to find (opposite word in this case). One can mistakenly opt for an option that has the word with a similar meaning instead of the opposite word.