Fill in the blank with the appropriate word from the given options:
Despite an affected_______that convinced casual observers that he was indifferent about his painting, the young NIFT graduate cared deeply about his art and laboured at it diligently.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → nonchalance
Complete sentence: Despite an affected nonchalance that convinced casual observers that he was indifferent about his painting, the young NIFT graduate cared deeply about his art and laboured at it diligently. "Affected" means put on, not real: the young graduate only pretended not to care, though he cared deeply about his art, and "Despite" marks this contrast.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) empathy | the ability to understand and share another person's feelings (it would not make observers think he was indifferent) | A good nurse shows empathy for patients. |
| (2) nonchalance (answer) | a calm, casual manner that shows no worry or interest | He walked into the exam hall with an air of nonchalance. |
| (3) fervour | strong, passionate feeling (an affected fervour would make him look keen, the reverse of indifferent) | The crowd sang the anthem with fervour. |
| (4) hysteria | uncontrolled emotion or panic (it has nothing to do with appearing indifferent) | Rumours of a shortage caused hysteria in the market. |