Question

Select the option that is closest in meaning to the underlined word:
In spite of hard work, the farmers could only get a meagre yield.
a. Satisfactory
b. Scanty
c. Plenty
d. Normal

Answer 1

Hint: The meaning of meagre is lacking in quantity. If something is meagre, its availability is restricted on account of certain factors.

Complete step-by-step answer:

Synonyms are words that have the same meaning as a given word. Generally, words in the English language have many synonyms bearing similar meanings. A thesaurus is a book that contains all these synonyms in one place.
Let us look at some examples of synonyms. Fluffy is a word which means to be covered in fluff. Woolly is another word that can be used to describe this same meaning in one word.
Similarly, let us look at the noun adolescent. When someone is an adolescent, they are in the stage between that of a child and that of an adult. Teenage is another adjective that can be used to describe this meaning in one word.
In our question, we have been given the word ‘meagre’. Let us consider what its meaning is. Meagre is derived from the Old French word ‘maigre’. It is an adjective that means to be inadequate, negligible, and sparse. The meaning of meagre is best characterized by the word scanty. Therefore, option ‘b’ is the correct answer.

Note: It is important that the student reads the question carefully and understands the direction given. If a student mistakes an antonym for a synonym, he/she may choose option ‘c’ plenty, instead of choosing the correct antonym which is scanty. Therefore, understanding the direction given in the question is very important.