Question 17

Sympathy and Apathy represent antonyms.

The word pair "Sympathy - Apathy" illustrates opposing concepts, where sympathy denotes a feeling of compassion for others, while apathy signifies a lack of interest or concern.

A) Concede - Accept

This pair does not represent antonyms, as both words imply a form of agreement or acknowledgment. To concede is to yield or admit something, while to accept is to receive or agree to something, making these terms closely related rather than oppositional.

B) Sympathy - Apathy

This pair is correct because sympathy and apathy are indeed antonyms. Sympathy involves an emotional connection and concern for others’ feelings, whereas apathy indicates indifference and a lack of emotional response. Thus, they represent opposite ends of a spectrum regarding emotional engagement.

C) Abstract - Distract

This choice is incorrect as the words do not hold antonymic relationships. "Abstract" refers to something that is not concrete or tangible, while "distract" means to divert attention. They are unrelated in meaning and do not oppose one another.

D) Ambivalent - Undecided

While both words pertain to uncertainty, they do not constitute antonyms. "Ambivalent" implies having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something, whereas "undecided" simply denotes a lack of decision. Both terms reflect a state of indecision rather than opposing concepts.

Conclusion

The correct answer, "Sympathy - Apathy," effectively captures antonyms by contrasting emotional involvement with emotional indifference. In contrast, the other options either reflect related concepts or fail to represent opposing meanings, thus confirming that B is the only accurate choice in this context.