Select the most appropriate synonym of the underlined word.
Medicines should be ordered by the generic name, not by the proprietary or trade name.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is option 2. General.
Out of the choices, the most appropriate synonym for "generic" is General
Generic refers to something that is typical of a whole class or group, not specific to a brand.
General also means applying to all or most people or things and not specific to a particular case.
Exclusive, individual, and specific all have opposite meanings to generic. They imply something that is unique or limited to a certain group or situation.
In the sentence, "generic name" refers to a medicine name that applies to any version of the drug, not a specific brand name. So, "general" best captures the meaning of "generic" in this context.