Question

Speaking in a tremulous tone, he took everybody to task. (Choose the best word which best expresses the meaning of the bold part of the sentence.)
A. Confident
B. Angry
C. Feeble
D. Trembling

Answer 1

Hint: The word ‘tremulous’ means ‘to be nervous’. As the sentence said that he was speaking in a tremulous tone, he took everybody to task meaning he was speaking nervously that he took everybody to the task. The question asked the word which expresses best as the same meaning of ‘tremulous’ or it can be a synonym of ‘tremulous’. A synonym is another word with the same meaning as the original word which is acceptable to use.

Complete answer:
Option (A) ‘Confident’: is an incorrect option because ‘Confident’ means ‘feeling or showing certainly about something’ which is the antonym of the word ‘tremulous’.

Option (B) ‘Angry’: is an incorrect option because ‘Angry’ means ‘feeling or showing strong annoyance’ which is the same meaning as the word ‘tremulous’.

Option (C) ‘Feeble’: is an incorrect option because ‘feeble’ means ‘lacking physical strength’ which is not the same meaning as the word ‘tremulous’.

Option (D) ‘Trembling’: is the correct option because ‘trembling’ means ‘shaking or quivering’ which is the synonym of the word ‘tremulous’.

Hence, the correct answers are Option ‘D’.

Note: Other synonyms for the word ‘tremulous’ are unsteady, quavering, nervous, wavering, etc.