Choose an Antonym to replace the highlighted word: The religious leader was quite fanatical about his views on other religions?

Appeared in: MNS 2024

Explanation

The word 'fanatical' describes someone who is excessively zealous and biased, holding extreme and uncritical beliefs.
'Unprejudiced' means being impartial, open-minded, and free from bias.
Therefore, 'unprejudiced' is the direct opposite (antonym) of 'fanatical' as it represents a state of tolerance and impartiality versus intolerance and bias.

Option A: 'Ferocious' means fierce or violent. While a fanatic might be ferocious, it is not the opposite of being fanatical.
Option B: 'Gorgeous' means beautiful or attractive and is completely unrelated to the concept of belief or zeal.
Option D: 'Irrepressible' means uncontrollable. A fanatic's zeal could be described as irrepressible, but the word itself is not an antonym.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Antonyms and Vocabulary as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
While this is a general English question, a strong vocabulary is essential for nurses for clear and precise communication with patients, families, and the healthcare team.
Accurate understanding of nuanced words helps in interpreting patient descriptions of symptoms and in providing clear instructions.
What if the question asked for a synonym? A synonym for 'fanatical' could be 'zealous', 'extremist', or 'radical'.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core meaning of the highlighted word, 'fanatical'. It implies extreme, uncritical belief and bias.
Next, analyze the connotation of 'fanatical'. It is generally negative, suggesting intolerance.
Evaluate each option to find the one with the opposite meaning. 'Unprejudiced' means impartial and open-minded, which is the direct opposite.
Eliminate options that are unrelated ('Gorgeous') or describe a different quality that is not an opposite ('Ferocious', 'Irrepressible').

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full MNS 2024

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.