Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank. The ______ child didn't hesitate to help his friends.

Appeared in: DSSSB 6 September 2024

Explanation

The sentence requires a word that describes a child who willingly helps their friends.
The phrase 'didn't hesitate to help' is a strong context clue indicating a positive trait of kindness and concern.
The word 'compassionate' means to feel or show sympathy and concern for others, which perfectly matches the child's action.
Prosocial behavior, such as helping, is an expression of empathy and compassion.

Option A: An 'indifferent' person is unconcerned and lacks interest. This is the opposite of a child who actively helps others.
Option C: A 'selfish' person prioritizes their own needs and lacks consideration for others. Helping friends without hesitation is an unselfish act.
Option D: An 'apathetic' person shows no interest, enthusiasm, or concern. This is synonymous with 'indifferent' and contradicts the helpful nature described.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Vocabulary and Context Clues as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
While this is a general English question, understanding nuanced terms like 'compassion' is vital in nursing. Compassion is a core value in patient care.
Effective communication with patients and their families requires a precise vocabulary to convey empathy, understanding, and care.
What if the nurse was described as 'apathetic' instead of 'compassionate'? This would imply a lack of care and emotional connection, which is detrimental to the nurse-patient relationship and can lead to poor patient outcomes and complaints.

How to Approach the Question

First, read the sentence carefully and identify the key action or description: 'didn't hesitate to help his friends.'
Analyze this key phrase to determine its connotation. Helping others is a positive action.
Evaluate each option based on its definition and whether it aligns with the positive action described.
Option A ('indifferent'), C ('selfish'), and D ('apathetic') all have negative connotations that conflict with the act of helping.
Option B ('compassionate') has a positive connotation that directly reflects the meaning of helping others out of concern.
Select the word that best fits the context provided by the sentence.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Vocabulary and Context Clues
Stem keywords: child, didn't hesitate to help, friends
Lead-in keywords: most appropriate
Clinical cues: Age/sex group narrows the expected diagnosis, intervention, or normal reference range.

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Practise the full DSSSB 6 September 2024

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