Why the answer is B, and why the others tempt you.
**The reasoning**
**Obsequious** means excessively eager to please or obey someone, often in a way that seems insincere or degrading. Think of someone who constantly flatters their boss, agrees with everything they say, and bows down to every request – that's obsequious behavior.
**Servile** means showing an excessive willingness to serve or please others, like a servant who goes beyond normal duty to the point of losing dignity. It's the closest match because both words describe someone who submits too much to another person's will.
**Why the wrong options tempt you**
- **Defiant** is actually the *opposite* – it means boldly resisting authority
- **Bold** also contradicts obsequious; bold people are confident and daring, not submissive
- **Calm** might seem neutral enough to fit, but it describes emotional state (peaceful), not behavior toward others
The trap here is picking words that *sound sophisticated* without checking if they match the meaning.
**Quick takeaway**
Obsequious = **excessively submissive**; servile = **slave-like in attitude** – both describe someone who pleases others to an unhealthy degree.
Want this in Pidgin, Yoruba, Igbo or Hausa? Sign up free →
Practice more Verbal Reasoning questions
GRE Verbal Reasoning has thousands more questions like this — with AI explanations on every one.