NDA (I) 2022 General Ability Test · Question 39 of 150

Correct — B, dullness. 'Perspicacity' is keenness of mental perception — sharp insight and shrewd understanding; the word opposite in meaning is 'dullness', a lack of mental sharpness or quickness.

• (a)smartness — 'Smartness' means cleverness or quick intelligence — a synonym of perspicacity, not its opposite.
• (c)dedication — 'Dedication' is commitment to a task; it concerns effort, not sharpness of mind, so it is not the opposite of perspicacity.
• (d)deviousness — 'Deviousness' means cunning or underhandedness; being sly is not the opposite of being perceptive.

An antonym item — 'perspicacity' is keen mental sharpness, so its opposite is 'dullness', a lack of sharpness of mind.

No directly related past PYQ was found.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  Select the word opposite in meaning to 'sharp-witted'.

  • (a)astute
  • (b)dull-witted
  • (c)keen
  • (d)clever

  Answer(b) dull-witted — 'sharp-witted' is quick to grasp things; 'dull-witted' is slow, so it is the opposite.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  Select the word opposite in meaning to 'perceptive'.

  • (a)discerning
  • (b)obtuse
  • (c)insightful
  • (d)astute

  Answer(b) obtuse — 'perceptive' is quick to notice and understand; 'obtuse' is slow to understand, so it is the opposite.