Vocabulary and Synonyms

Benign means gentle, kindly, harmless, or not dangerous. The opposite (antonym) is malevolent - having or showing a wish to do evil to others. Soft means not hard, friendly means kind, and unwise means not sensible.

Intellectual refers to a person with superior understanding, knowledge, and reasoning abilities. Expert is skilled in a specific field, snob is arrogant about culture, and literate means can read and write. Intellectual best captures 'good understanding knowledge and reasoning power'.

Stickler means a person who insists on something strictly or demands adherence to rules/details. Disciplinarian enforces discipline, instantaneous means immediate, and boaster brags excessively. Stickler specifically captures 'insists on something'.

Pedantic writing focuses on showing off the author's knowledge through excessive attention to technical details and formal rules. Verbose writing merely uses too many words, while ornate refers to elaborate decoration rather than knowledge display, and pompous describes an arrogant tone.

To keep one's temper means to maintain emotional control and remain calm, not losing one's composure. Option B correctly identifies this as being in a good mood, which reflects emotional stability.

To cry wolf comes from Aesop's fable about a shepherd boy who repeatedly falsely alarmed villagers about a wolf. When a wolf actually appeared, nobody believed him. The phrase means giving a false alarm.

The idiom 'to end in smoke' means to come to nothing or fail completely, producing no result. None of the given options (making understand, ruining oneself, exciting applause) correctly capture this meaning of ending in failure or nothingness.

The phrase 'above board' originates from card games where hands were kept above the table (board) to show fairness. It means to be honest, open, and legitimate in business dealings, with nothing hidden or deceptive.

'To pick holes' means to criticize someone by finding faults or weaknesses in their argument, work, or character. The idiom suggests examining something carefully to point out flaws or imperfections.

Indiscreet means lacking discretion, revealing good judgment, or being rash. The opposite is prudent, which means showing good judgment and careful thought. Reliable, honest, and stupid are not true antonyms of indiscreet.

Familiar means well-known, recognized, or friendly. The antonym strange means unfamiliar, unknown, or foreign. Friendly is a synonym, not an antonym, and unpleasant/dangerous are not direct opposites.

Love represents deep affection or emotional attachment. The direct antonym is hatred, representing intense dislike or animosity. Villainy refers to wickedness rather than hatred, while compulsion and force are not emotional opposites.

Famous means well-known, celebrated, or widely recognized. The antonym unknown means not known or obscure. Disgraced has moral connotations beyond just being unknown, evil is a moral judgment, and popular is actually a synonym.

Frugal means living simply and economically, being careful with money and resources. Extravagant is the opposite - spending wastefully and being lavish. Generous could align with frugal in some contexts, while copious means abundant and ostentatious means showy - neither are direct antonyms.

Ostentation means a pretentious or showy display designed to impress others - flourishing or showing off extravagantly. 'Simplicity' is the opposite. 'Oscillate' means to swing back and forth, 'oust' means to remove.