Question
Find the odd one in the following group of words.
mock, deride, praise, jeer
Official answer and solution
- Official answer
- C
- From
- Official GATE 2016 answer key
Solution
Analyze the connotations and definitions of all four words to identify the semantic outlier.
Examine the definitions of each word in the group:
- "mock": to tease or laugh at in a scornful or contemptuous manner (negative connotation).
- "deride": to express contempt for; to ridicule (negative connotation).
- "praise": to express warm approval or admiration of; to commend (positive connotation).
- "jeer": to make rude and mocking remarks, typically in a loud voice (negative connotation).
Three of the words (mock, deride, jeer) are close synonyms meaning to ridicule or show contempt. In contrast, "praise" has the opposite, positive meaning of expressing admiration.
Hence, "praise" is the odd one out.
Final answer
C
The answer is the one in the official GATE answer key. The solution is this site's own explanation.
Source
- Paper
- GATE 2016 Computer Science and Information Technology (CS) Session 2
- Question
- 3 of 65, printed as GA Q.3
- Section
- General Aptitude
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