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Question

Each item in this section consists of a sentence with an underlined word followed by four words or group of words. Select the option that is opposite in meaning to the underlined word and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.

The poet said that poetry is a spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings

This question was previously asked in
CDS II 2021 General Knowledge Previous Year Paper (14-Nov-2021)
The correct answer is

prepared

Understanding Antonyms: Finding the Opposite of Spontaneous

The question asks us to identify the word or group of words that has the opposite meaning (antonym) to the underlined word 'spontaneous' in the given sentence.

The sentence is: "The poet said that poetry is a spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings"

The underlined word we need to focus on is spontaneous.

Meaning of Spontaneous

Let's first understand what 'spontaneous' means:

  • It describes something that happens or arises from a sudden impulse or inclination.
  • It means occurring without planning or conscious effort.
  • It suggests something natural, unforced, and impulsive.

So, a 'spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings' implies that the feelings and the resulting poetry emerge naturally from within the poet, without deliberate planning or preparation.

Analyzing the Options for the Antonym

Now, let's examine each option to find the one that is opposite in meaning to 'spontaneous':

  • prepared: This means made ready or planned in advance. If something is prepared, it is the result of deliberate planning and effort before it happens. This is directly contrary to something that happens spontaneously, which is unplanned.
  • alerted: This means given a warning or made aware of something. Being alerted relates to notification or awareness, not whether an action or event is planned or unplanned. It is not the opposite of spontaneous.
  • automatic: This refers to something that operates by itself or happens without conscious thought. While 'automatic' shares some similarity with 'spontaneous' in lacking conscious effort at the moment of action, it often refers to a habitual or mechanical response. It is not the primary opposite of spontaneous; in some contexts, it can even be seen as similar.
  • well executed: This describes how effectively or skillfully something is performed. It refers to the quality of the execution, not whether the action was planned or happened spontaneously. It is not the opposite of spontaneous.

Identifying the Correct Opposite Word

We are looking for the word that represents the opposite of something happening naturally, unplanned, and from impulse (spontaneous).

Comparing the meanings, the word 'prepared' means planned and made ready beforehand. This is the direct opposite of something happening spontaneously, which is unplanned.

Therefore, the word opposite in meaning to 'spontaneous' is 'prepared'.

Revision Table: Understanding Word Opposites (Antonyms)

WordGeneral MeaningAntonym (Opposite)Synonym (Similar)
SpontaneousHappening naturally, unplanned, impulsivePrepared, Planned, Deliberate, premeditatedAutomatic, Instinctive, Unbidden, Impromptu
PreparedMade ready, Planned, OrganizedSpontaneous, Unplanned, UnpreparedReady, Arranged, Set up
AlertedWarned, Notified, Made awareUnwarned, Uninformed, UnnotifiedCautioned, Apprised, Informed
AutomaticOperating by itself, Done without conscious thoughtManual, Deliberate, ConsciousMechanical, Instinctive, Involuntary
Well executedDone effectively or skillfullyPoorly executed, Botched, bungledAccomplished, Proficiently done, successful

Additional Information: Building Your Vocabulary with Antonyms

Learning antonyms is a very effective way to build your vocabulary and improve your understanding of word meanings and their relationships.

  • An antonym is a word that means the opposite of another word.
  • Knowing antonyms helps you choose the most precise word when speaking or writing.
  • Paying attention to context is important, as some words can have different antonyms depending on how they are used in a sentence.
  • Regular practice with vocabulary exercises, like finding antonyms and synonyms, can significantly enhance your verbal skills for competitive exams.
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