Choose the correct word to fill in the blank.
The eighteenth century British comedies raised a lot of laughter as they highlighted the _____ attitude of the royal ladies.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → vain
Vain is an adjective meaning too proud of one's looks, abilities or position. The comedies laughed at the proud, showy attitude of the royal ladies, so "vain attitude" fits.
Example: The vain prince spent hours in front of the mirror.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: wane — Incorrect. Wane is mainly a verb meaning to become smaller or weaker (the moon wanes); it cannot describe an attitude.
Example: His interest in music began to wane.
Option 2: vein — Incorrect. A vein is a blood vessel that carries blood to the heart, or a particular mood or style ("in a lighter vein"); it is a noun, not an adjective.
Example: The nurse found a vein in his arm to take blood.
Option 4: vane — Incorrect. A vane is a flat blade moved by wind or water, as in a weather vane that shows the wind's direction. (Vain, vein and vane sound alike: vain is proud, vein a blood vessel, vane a blade turned by the wind.)
Example: A metal weather vane turned on the church roof.