Question

Complete the following proverb:
A little knowledge is a _______ thing.
a) sweet
b) profitable
c) good
d) dangerous

Answer 1

Hint: The given sentence contains a fact describing ‘a little knowledge’. This is a very particular description that describes half knowledge.

Complete answer:
There are a number of idioms in the English language that are set phrases that have an assigned meaning. They cannot be changed and their context is always well-defined.
In this case, the idiom is ‘a little knowledge is a dangerous thing’. This is a concrete idiom that cannot be changed. The meaning is easy to guess. The idiom means that a small amount of knowledge can mislead individuals into believing that they are more experienced and expert than what is actually the case.

Now, we know the meaning and usage of the given idiom. Let’s look at the available options-
a) sweet - The word ‘sweet’ refers to ‘having the pleasant taste characteristic of sugar or honey; not salt, sour, or bitter'. This has a completely different meaning to the given idiom. They do not have the same meaning. This is not the required answer. So, this is an incorrect option.
b) profitable - The word ‘profitable’ refers to ‘(of a business or activity) yielding profit or financial gain'. This has a completely different meaning to the given idiom. They do not have the same meaning. This is not the required answer. So, this is an incorrect option.
c) good - The word ‘good’ refers to ‘to be desired or approved of'. This has a completely different meaning to the given idiom. They do not have the same meaning. This is not the required answer. So, this is an incorrect option.
d) dangerous - The word ‘dangerous’ refers to ‘able or likely to cause harm or injury'. This has the same meaning as the given idiom. They have the same meaning. This is the required answer. So, this is the correct option.

Note:
Identify the context of the sentence and choose the most relevant option. Idioms are predetermined, and they cannot be edited.