Choose the correct one-word substitution for the phrase in italics. "A person who is indifferent to or distrustful of human integrity or morality."

Correct — B. A cynic distrusts human motives and believes people act mainly out of self-interest rather than integrity or principle.

The definition's load-bearing words are distrustful of human integrity or morality. That settled suspicion of people is what the word cynic names → option (b).

The other three options lean towards hope for people or care for them; the cynic alone leans towards suspicion.

Why the others are wrong

• (a)
  Idealist — Idealist points the other way: someone guided by high ideals, who puts faith in the very principles a cynic doubts people hold.
• (c)
  Optimist — Optimist is about outcomes: someone who expects things to turn out well. The definition is about distrust of people's integrity, which is not what optimist means.
• (d)
  Humanitarian — Humanitarian names someone who works to improve human welfare, an attitude of care for people, not distrust of their morality.

A one-word substitution gives a definition and asks for the word it defines. Read for the core idea, here distrust of human integrity, rather than matching single words such as 'human'.

The options sort by attitude to people. Idealist, Optimist and Humanitarian lean towards faith in them or hope for them; Cynic alone leans towards suspicion.

Keep cynic apart from its neighbours. A sceptic doubts claims until they are proved, a pessimist expects the worst outcome, and a cynic doubts people's motives.

Key facts

• A cynic believes people are motivated mainly by self-interest and distrusts claims of sincerity or integrity.
• The adjective is cynical and the attitude is cynicism.
• A sceptic doubts whether claims are true, while a cynic doubts people's motives.
• The word comes from the ancient Greek Cynics, via Greek kynikos, 'dog-like'.

Common traps

• Confusing cynic with sceptic: a sceptic questions claims, a cynic questions motives
• Choosing Humanitarian because the definition mentions human morality, though it describes distrust of it

No directly related past PYQ was found.