Question

Choose the word that gives the antonym of the word italicized.
Some people indulge in loud vulgar talk.
a. Simple
b. Restrained
c. Graceful
d. Refined

Answer 1

Hint: Antonyms are opposite words. In this case, we must find a word whose meaning is completely different than that of ‘vulgar’.

Complete step-by-step answer:

As we have seen before, antonyms are also known as opposite words. Anything that is opposite differs in its meaning completely from the given word. If the word is accurate, its opposite would be a word that implies imprecision or imperfection i.e., inaccurate. Similarly, if the word is capable, its opposite would be a word that implies an inability to execute something i.e. incapable.
In the given question, the word is ‘vulgar’. Vulgar is an adjective. If something is vulgar, it is tasteless and lacks sophistication. It is indecent. Now, that we know what the word means, we must find a word whose meaning is the opposite of ‘vulgar’. Logically, this means that we have to find a word whose meaning is tasteful and sophisticated. Out of all the given options, the word refined, which means elegant and cultured, is the correct match of this opposite meaning. Hence, option ‘d’ is the correct answer.

Note: Let us consider the problematic areas of this question. Students may mistake option ‘c’ ‘graceful’ as the correct answer as it implies elegance and grace. This option is a distractor as vulgarity has nothing to do with the absence of grace. Rather, it is option ‘d’ refined that is the opposite of the crudeness that characterizes vulgarity.