Question

Choose the word that best fits the blank:
The manager's apology was seen as a _________ attempt to pacify the angry employees.

• A. Genuine
• B. Laudable
• C. Perfunctory
• D. Meticulous

Hint:

In vocabulary questions, focus on the tone of the sentence—negative tone often signals words like "perfunctory," "superficial," or "insincere."

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understand the context of the sentence.
The sentence describes an apology that was meant to pacify angry employees but was viewed negatively. This suggests the apology lacked sincerity or genuine effort.
Step 2: Analyze the meaning of each option.
(A) Genuine: Means sincere and heartfelt, which contradicts the negative tone of the sentence.
(B) Laudable: Means worthy of praise, which does not fit the context of dissatisfaction.
(C) Perfunctory: Means done without real interest, feeling, or effort — this perfectly matches the implied lack of sincerity.
(D) Meticulous: Means very careful and precise, which is unrelated to the context of an apology.
Step 3: Conclusion.
The word perfunctory best fits the sentence because it conveys a lack of genuine effort in the apology.