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Question

Directions: In the following items, a pair of words is provided. You are required to select the option that most appropriately describes the meaning of both the words and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.

'Complaisant' and 'Complacent'

This question was previously asked in
CDS 2 2024 Maths Question Paper (01-Sep-2024)
The correct answer is Complaisant means eager to please and complacent means overconfident

Understanding the Meanings of 'Complaisant' and 'Complacent'

This question asks us to identify the correct definitions for the words 'Complaisant' and 'Complacent'. These words sound similar but have distinct meanings. Let's break down each word to find the option that best describes both.

Complaisant Meaning Explained

The term 'Complaisant' refers to a person's tendency to be agreeable and obliging. Someone who is complaisant is willing to please others and often goes out of their way to satisfy the desires or wishes of those around them. It describes a behavior focused on accommodating others.

Complacent Meaning Explained

On the other hand, 'Complacent' describes a state of self-satisfaction. A complacent person feels smugly pleased with themselves or their achievements, often to the point where they become careless, unaware of potential dangers, or have no motivation to improve. It implies an excessive and uncritical confidence in one's own situation.

Comparing Complaisant vs. Complacent

To correctly choose the right option, we need to highlight the key difference:

  • Complaisant: About pleasing *others*.
  • Complacent: About being pleased with *oneself*, often leading to overconfidence or lack of vigilance.

Identifying the Correct Option

Now, let's evaluate the given choices based on these definitions:

  • Option 1: Incorrectly defines 'Complaisant' as overconfident and 'Complacent' as eager to please.
  • Option 2: Incorrectly defines 'Complaisant' as confident. While complacency can stem from confidence, 'Complaisant' specifically means eager to please.
  • Option 3: Correctly defines 'Complaisant' as eager to please, but incorrectly defines 'Complacent' as 'to manifest universally'.
  • Option 4: Defines 'Complaisant' as 'eager to please' and 'Complacent' as 'overconfident'. This accurately captures the core meanings and the common implication of complacency (overconfidence due to self-satisfaction).
  • Option 5: This option is empty and provides no information.

Based on the analysis, Option 4 provides the most accurate description for both 'Complaisant' and 'Complacent'.

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