Question

Choose the word which best expresses the meaning of the italicized part of the sentence-
A reliable friend is a gift of God.
a- Helpful
b- Dependable
c- Honest
d- True

Answer 1

Hint: A synonym refers to a word that is exactly or partially the same in meaning as another word. For example- Honest is a synonym for virtuous. ‘Reliable’ refers to someone or something trustworthy and well-founded.

Complete answer:
 The word ‘reliable’ has been derived from the Scottish word- Raliabill.
We know the meaning and the origin of the word ‘reliable’. Now, let’s look at its usage-
For example- I got to know about the plan from a reliable source. Here, we can comprehend that X got to know about the plan from a trustworthy or dependable source.
Let’s examine the meaning of the given options-
Option a- ‘Helpful’ refers to someone thoughtful and considerate of others. For example- He was helpful to me in the hall. ‘Helpful’ is different in meaning to the given context. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
Option b- ‘Dependable’ refers to someone trustworthy and reliable. For example- He provides a dependable supply of goods to his clients. ‘Dependable’ is similar in meaning to the given context. Hence, it is the correct option.
Option c- ‘Honest’ refers to the quality of being truthful and virtuous. For example- My younger brother is an honest child. ‘Honest’ is different in meaning to the given context. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
Option d- ‘True’ refers to something accurate or verifiable. For example- This is based on a true story. ‘True’ is different in meaning to the given context. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
The correct answer is Option ‘b’.

Note:
 Some other synonyms of ‘reliable’ are; authentic, definitive, steadfast, etc while some antonyms of ‘reliable’ are; unreliable, dodgy, untrustworthy, etc.