Choose the most appropriate option to replace the underlined phrase in the given sentence:-
My father’s penchant for excessive concern for minor details drives my mother up the wall and leads to fruitless arguments.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → pedantry
The underlined phrase "excessive concern for minor details" is the definition of pedantry, so the sentence becomes "My father’s penchant for pedantry drives my mother up the wall".
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) pecuniary | an adjective meaning relating to money (it does not name any habit and has nothing to do with details) | He helped his friend without any thought of pecuniary gain. |
| (2) pedagogy | the method and practice of teaching | The workshop trained teachers in modern pedagogy. |
| (3) prosody | the study of rhythm, stress and metre in poetry and speech | The lecture on Milton’s prosody explained how his lines are measured. |
| (4) pedantry (answer) | too much attention to small details and rules, usually in a way that irritates other people | His pedantry over every comma made the editing meeting drag on for hours. |