Which of the following words can fill in the blank suitably in the following sentence?
The employees refused to follow the rules of the company. They have been called ____.
(A) amiable
(B) recalcitrant
(C) obstreperous
(D) obsequious
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → (B) and (C) only
(A) amiable — Incorrect.
- Amiable means friendly and pleasant.
- It does not describe employees who refuse to follow the rules.
Example: Our new neighbour is an amiable man.
(B) recalcitrant — Correct.
- Recalcitrant means refusing to obey rules or authority, which is what the employees did.
Example: The recalcitrant students would not follow the school rules.
(C) obstreperous — Correct.
- Obstreperous means noisy and difficult to control.
- Employees who defy the company's rules are unruly in this sense.
Example: The obstreperous crowd shouted down the speaker.
(D) obsequious — Incorrect.
- Obsequious means too eager to please or obey, the opposite of refusing to follow rules.
Example: The obsequious clerk agreed with everything the manager said.
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