Choose a word that best replaces the underlined expression in the following sentence:
Most students find it difficult to work with Rivaan as he is too fastidious about minor details or rules.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → pedantic
Two-step check: 1. Part of speech: after "too" the blank needs an adjective (peddler and precinct are nouns). 2. Meaning: fussy about small details and rules. Only "pedantic" passes both.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) pedantic (answer) | too concerned with minor details or formal rules | The pedantic examiner cut marks for every missing comma. |
| (2) peddler | a person who goes from place to place selling small goods (it is a noun and cannot follow "he is too") | A peddler was selling toys at the fair. |
| (3) preposterous | completely unreasonable or absurd (it does not describe fussiness about details) | The demand for a tenfold rise in rent was preposterous. |
| (4) precinct | an area within fixed boundaries, such as the grounds of a temple or a police district (it is a noun with no link to the sentence) | No vehicles are allowed within the temple precincts. |