Read the passage carefully and answer the following questions:

The critical faculty is the most potent one in the human make up. Its pervasiveness and force have not properly been recognized because like breathing, it is so much part and parcel of human activity. The difference between a simpleton and an intelligent man, according to the man who is convinced that he is of the latter category, is that the former wholeheartedly accepts all things that he sees and hears while the latter never admits everything except after a most searching scrutiny. He imagines his intelligence to be sieve of closely woven mesh through which nothing but the fines can pass. The critical sense is essential for keeping social transactions in a warm state. Otherwise life would become very dull and goody-goody. The critical faculty is responsible for a lot of give and take in life. It increases our awareness of our surroundings; no doubt, it sounds dignified, but is also seems to mean that we can watch someone else’s back better than our own. We never know our own defects till they are pointed out to us, and even then, we need not accept them. We always question bona-fides of the man who tells unpleasant facts. On the surface it is very easy to say, “I want an honest criticism that will help me, not blind compliments”. I wish people would mean it.

Find the most appropriate word that defines ‘Simpleton’ in view of the passage.

Gullible

The correct answer is OPTION 1 - Gullible

The most appropriate word that defines ‘Simpleton’ in view of the passage is Gullible.

In the context of the passage, a simpleton is described as someone who "wholeheartedly accepts all things that he sees and hears," implying a lack of critical scrutiny and an inclination to believe without question. The term gullible fits this description well, as it refers to someone who is easily deceived or tricked because they believe things too readily.

The other options:
Immature refers to a lack of development or growth, which does not fully capture the sense of being easily deceived.
Intellect is the ability to think and understand, which is contrary to the meaning of simpleton.
Mature suggests full development and understanding, which is the opposite of being a simpleton.