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Difficulty: HardAntonyms and Words Opposite in Meaning

During the parliamentary inquiry, the managing director offered only CIRCUMSPECT responses to the committee's probing questions, taking care not to disclose proprietary financial details. Which of the following options is most nearly opposite in meaning to the bold word as used in the sentence?

  1. A
    Prudent
  2. RecklessAnswer
  3. C
    Circular
  4. D
    Diplomatic

Answer

Reckless
In the context of the sentence, 'circumspect' means careful, prudent, and guarded against taking unnecessary risks. The word 'reckless' means rash, careless, and unmindful of consequences, making it the exact antonym of circumspect.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the contextual meaning of the target word CIRCUMSPECT in the sentence.
In this context, 'circumspect' describes someone who is cautious, guarded, and prudent to avoid committing errors or revealing sensitive information.
Determining the precise contextual sense of the word is required before seeking its antonym.
2
Determine the word opposite in meaning (antonym) to being cautious and guarded.
The opposite of exercising caution and prudence is acting in a rash, careless, or reckless manner.
An antonym must negate the specific core meaning of the target word in context.
3
Evaluate the choices to select the accurate antonym while avoiding distractor traps.
'Reckless' is the correct antonym, whereas 'prudent' is a synonym, 'circular' is a paronym distractor, and 'diplomatic' is a register mismatch.
This step validates the correct option against the specific error taxonomy of JAMB UTME items.

Key Concept

Antonyms and Words Opposite in Meaning
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Antonyms and Words Opposite in Meaning

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