Question

Complete the sentence with a suitable option:

To say that we were surprised at the cleverness of the child is an understatement.
We were really ___________.

A. annoyed
B. astounded
C. flattered
D. confused

Answer 1

Hint: Try to look for a synonym of the word ‘surprised’ from the given options, i.e. find a word that has the exact same meaning as the word ‘surprised’.

Complete answer:

The second sentence has a blank right after the adverb ‘really’. This means that the blank should ideally be filled with an adjective, as adverbs describe a verb or an adjective. Now, the first sentence contains an adjective ‘surprised’.

When we look at the meaning of the sentences, it states that the word ‘surprised’ was an understatement. So, we need to find a more intense version of the adjective ‘surprised’, i.e. a synonym. The word ‘surprised’ refers to ‘feeling or showing surprise’.

Now that we know the meaning, let’s look at the given options:

a)annoyed - The word ‘annoyed’ refers to ‘slightly angry; irritated'. This has a completely different meaning to the word ‘surprised’. It is not the required synonym. So, this is an incorrect option.
b)astounded - The word ‘astounded’ refers to ‘shock or greatly surprised’. This has the exact same meaning to the given word. It is the required synonym. So, this is the correct option.
c)flattered - The word ‘flattered’ refers to ‘lavish praise and compliments on someone’. This has an unrelated meaning to the given word. This is not the required synonym. So, this is an incorrect option.
d)confused - The word ‘confused’ refers to ‘unable to think clearly'. This has a very different meaning to the given word. It is not the required synonym. So, this is an incorrect option.

Note: Understand the context of the given sentences. There is a clear adjective that is required, make sure it matches with the meaning of the rest of the sentence.