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Question

Directions:Select the option that is opposite in meaning to the underlined word and mark your response accordingly.

In the winters, the countryside view is bleak and the house is drafty.

This question was previously asked in
NDA I 2023 GAT Previous Year Paper (16-Apr-2023)
The correct answer is

verdant

Understanding the Word "Bleak" and Finding its Opposite

The question asks us to find the word that is opposite in meaning to the underlined word "bleak" in the given sentence: "In the winters, the countryside view is bleak and the house is drafty."

Let's first understand the meaning of the word "bleak" in this context. When describing a landscape or view, "bleak" typically means:

  • Bare, exposed, or desolate.
  • Cold and forbidding.
  • Gloomy and depressing.

A bleak winter countryside view suggests a landscape without vegetation, cold, and perhaps unwelcoming.

Analyzing the Options to Find the Antonym of Bleak

We need to examine the given options and determine which one represents the opposite meaning of "bleak" as it applies to a view or landscape.

Let's look at each option:

  1. cheerless: This word means without cheer; gloomy or depressing. This is very similar in meaning to "bleak".
  2. verdant: This word means green with vegetation; covered in green plants. A verdant landscape is full of life and colour, typically associated with spring or summer. This is the opposite of a bare, desolate, and lifeless winter view described as "bleak".
  3. desolate: This word means (of a place) bare, uninhabited, and giving an impression of bleak and dismal emptiness. This is also very similar in meaning to "bleak".
  4. bare: This word means lacking vegetation; exposed; empty. Like cheerless and desolate, this is similar in meaning to "bleak" when describing a landscape, especially in winter.

Identifying the Correct Opposite of Bleak

Comparing the meanings, "cheerless", "desolate", and "bare" are all synonyms or very close in meaning to "bleak" when describing a landscape. The word that describes a landscape that is the opposite of bleak (bare, cold, desolate) is "verdant", which signifies greenness, life, and lushness.

Therefore, the word opposite in meaning to "bleak" in this context is "verdant".

Revision Table: Understanding Opposites

Word Meaning (in context) Opposite Meaning Opposite Word (Antonym)
Bleak Bare, desolate, cold, gloomy (landscape) Green, lush, full of life, cheerful (landscape) Verdant

Additional Information on Antonyms and Synonyms

Understanding synonyms (words with similar meanings) and antonyms (words with opposite meanings) is crucial for building strong vocabulary. Context is key when determining the meaning of a word and its opposite.

For example, "bleak" can also mean having a depressing or worrying outlook (e.g., "a bleak future"). In that context, the opposite might be "hopeful" or "optimistic". However, the question specifically describes a "countryside view", guiding us to the meaning related to physical appearance.

Let's quickly recap the relationships:

  • Synonyms of Bleak (in context): cheerless, desolate, bare, exposed, stark.
  • Antonyms of Bleak (in context): verdant, lush, green, vibrant, cheerful, lively.

The option "verdant" fits perfectly as the opposite of a bleak winter view.

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Important Questions from Synonyms or Antonyms

  1. Select the synonym of the given word.

    STRAY

  2. Select the synonym of the given word.

    ZENITH

  3. Select the antonym of the given word.

    GRANT

  4. Directions:Choose the synonym of the given word.

    ANNOY

  5. Select the synonym of the given word.

    ABILITY

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