In the sentence, which word completes the blank: 'The doctor made some ___________ comments about my headaches being "just stress."''

In the sentence, which word completes the blank: 'The doctor made some ___________ comments about my headaches being "just stress."''

• A. Acolyte
• B. Glib
• C. Esoteric
• D. Hubris

Answer: (B)

Understanding tone and connotation in word choice. The word that fits best describes remarks that are smooth and fluent but shallow or insincere—like comments that dismiss a real concern without real depth or care. That nuance is captured by glib, which conveys a superficial, dismissive tone when someone minimizes something as ordinary or trivial. The other options don’t fit the sense of tone here. Acolyte is a follower and has nothing to do with how someone speaks. Esoteric means obscure or understood by a few, which would imply mystery rather than dismissal. Hubris refers to excessive pride, which would describe arrogance rather than the superficial dismissal implied by the doctor’s remarks. So the sentence reads best with glib, signaling superficial, dismissive comments about the headaches.

Understanding tone and connotation in word choice. The word that fits best describes remarks that are smooth and fluent but shallow or insincere—like comments that dismiss a real concern without real depth or care. That nuance is captured by glib, which conveys a superficial, dismissive tone when someone minimizes something as ordinary or trivial.

The other options don’t fit the sense of tone here. Acolyte is a follower and has nothing to do with how someone speaks. Esoteric means obscure or understood by a few, which would imply mystery rather than dismissal. Hubris refers to excessive pride, which would describe arrogance rather than the superficial dismissal implied by the doctor’s remarks.

So the sentence reads best with glib, signaling superficial, dismissive comments about the headaches.