Choose the most appropriate option to fill in the blank in the given sentence:
He is a ________ man who shrinks from taking any risk.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → cowardly
Cowardly is an adjective (though it ends in -ly) meaning lacking courage; easily frightened. A man who "shrinks from taking any risk" lacks courage, and "a ... man" needs an adjective in the positive degree, which "cowardly" is.
Example: It was cowardly of him to run away and leave his friend behind.
Complete sentence: He is a cowardly man who shrinks from taking any risk.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: cleaverer — Incorrect.
- It is not a word; the comparative of "clever" is cleverer.
- Even "cleverer" would need "than", and cleverness does not explain why a man shrinks from risk.
Option 2: greatest — Incorrect.
- A superlative takes "the" ("the greatest man"), not "a".
- Greatness does not match a man who fears every risk.
Example: She is the greatest athlete of her generation.
Option 4: meeker — Incorrect.
- "Meeker" is a comparative and would need "than"; no comparison is made.
- "Meek" means quiet, gentle and ready to obey; it describes a mild nature, not fear of risk.
Example: The meek boy never argued with anyone.