He was a reluctant learner.
- (a)enthusiastic
- (b)eager
- (c)unwilling
- (d)fearful
Answer
C
Why
Correct — C, unwilling. 'Reluctant' means holding back and not wanting to do something, and 'unwilling' means not willing — the two are near-identical in meaning.
Why the others are wrong
- (a)enthusiastic — 'Enthusiastic' means eager and keen; it is the opposite of reluctant.
- (b)eager — 'Eager' means keenly wanting to do something; it is the opposite of reluctant.
- (d)fearful — 'Fearful' means afraid; a person may be reluctant without being frightened, so it is not the nearest meaning.
Concept
A synonym item — 'reluctant' means hesitant and disinclined, which 'unwilling' matches directly.
Related PYQs
No directly related past PYQ was found.
Practice
- practice — not a real PYQ
Select the word nearest in meaning to 'hesitant'.
- (a)willing
- (b)disinclined
- (c)keen
- (d)ready
Answer(b) disinclined — 'hesitant' means holding back, i.e. disinclined.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Select the word nearest in meaning to 'loath'.
- (a)eager
- (b)unwilling
- (c)happy
- (d)willing
Answer(b) unwilling — 'loath' means reluctant, i.e. unwilling.