Choose the correct one-word substitute for: 'Excessive self-importance or over-confidence.'

Correct — C. Arrogance is an exaggerated sense of one's own importance or abilities. That covers both halves of the phrase: self-importance and over-confidence.

The deciding word is excessive. Confidence and self-respect are not faults; arrogance is what they become when they outgrow the facts → option (c).

The root is Latin arrogare, 'to claim for oneself', the verb behind arrogate.

Why the others are wrong

• (a)
  Prudence — Prudence is careful judgement about risk and the future. It has nothing to do with self-importance, and over-confidence is closer to its failure than to it.
• (b)
  Humility — Humility is a modest or low view of one's own importance, the direct opposite of the phrase. It would fit an antonym question, not this one.
• (d)
  Modesty — Modesty means not overrating your own abilities or achievements. Like Humility, it sits at the opposite pole from excessive self-importance.

One-word substitutes are decided by the defining element. Here the phrase gives it twice, self-importance and over-confidence, and qualifies both with excessive.

Sort the options. Humility and Modesty are the opposite pole, a low or accurate view of oneself. Prudence is a different quality altogether, caution. Arrogance alone matches the phrase.

A close cousin is hubris, excessive pride or self-confidence; in Greek tragedy, pride that defies the gods and leads to nemesis.

Key facts

• Arrogant means having or revealing an exaggerated sense of one's own importance or abilities.
• Arrogance comes from Latin arrogare, 'to claim for oneself'.
• Humility is a modest or low view of one's own importance.
• Hubris means excessive pride or self-confidence.

Common traps

• Confusing arrogance with vanity, which is excessive pride in one's appearance or achievements
• Mixing up arrogate, 'claim without right', with abrogate, 'repeal'

No directly related past PYQ was found.