Identify the odd one out from the following:

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 1

The correct answer is Option (1) → Intense fear attached to one particular object

Option (1) Intense fear attached to one particular object — Correct. This is the odd one out. The other three are symptoms of GAD, whose fears are not attached to any particular object. Fear tied to one specific object or situation, such as a lizard or a lift, marks a phobia instead.

Option (2) Constantly scanning the environment for dangers — Incorrect. This is hypervigilance, a symptom of GAD. The person stays on guard and keeps looking around for danger.

Option (3) Restlessness and being visibly shaky and tense — Incorrect. This comes from motor tension, which marks GAD. The person is unable to relax and looks restless, shaky and tense.

Option (4) Worry and apprehensive feelings about the future — Incorrect. This is a symptom of generalised anxiety disorder (GAD). The person keeps worrying about what may happen in the future.

NCERT (2026-27): “One day while driving home, Deb felt his …
Everyone has worries and fears. The term anxiety is usually defined as a diffuse, vague, very unpleasant feeling of fear and apprehension. The anxious individual also shows combinations of the following symptoms: rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, fainting, dizziness, sweating, sleeplessness, frequent urination and tremors. There are many types of anxiety disorders (see Table 4.1). They include generalised anxiety disorder, which consists of prolonged, vague, unexplained and intense fears that are not attached to any particular object. The symptoms include worry and apprehensive feelings about the future; hypervigilance, which involves constantly scanning the environment for dangers. It is marked by motor tension, as a result of which the person is unable to relax, is restless, and visibly shaky and tense.”