Choose the most appropriate word to fill in the blank:
He _____ madness in order to escape.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → feigned
Complete sentence: He feigned madness in order to escape. The man pretended to be mad so that he could escape, which is what "feigned madness" means.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) cited | to mention something as a reason or an example, or to quote from a book ("cited madness" would mean he gave madness as a reason, which does not help him escape) | He cited ill health as the reason for his resignation. |
| (2) feigned (answer) | to pretend to have a feeling, illness or condition that one does not really have | She feigned a headache to leave the party early. |
| (3) deferred | to put off to a later time (one cannot put off madness) | The college deferred the exams by a week. |
| (4) demonstrated | to show something openly or prove it (it suggests real madness, not a trick to escape) | The teacher demonstrated how a magnet works. |
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