The taxi driver, a ____________ man in middle age, showed no surprise at this request.

The taxi driver, a ____________ man in middle age, showed no surprise at this request.

• A. Phlegmatic
• B. Unctuous
• C. Circumspect
• D. Febrile

Answer: (A)

Think about how the sentence describes the taxi driver's mood. The word should depict someone who stays calm and not easily surprised. Phlegmatic fits because it means calm, composed, and not easily excited or shaken. It conveys that the driver remains unfazed by the request. The other options don’t match that vibe: unctuous describes insincere, oily flattery; circumspect means cautious and careful, not necessarily emotionally unmoved; febrile means feverish or highly agitated, the opposite of calm. So, the best choice precisely captures the intended temperament.

Think about how the sentence describes the taxi driver's mood. The word should depict someone who stays calm and not easily surprised. Phlegmatic fits because it means calm, composed, and not easily excited or shaken. It conveys that the driver remains unfazed by the request. The other options don’t match that vibe: unctuous describes insincere, oily flattery; circumspect means cautious and careful, not necessarily emotionally unmoved; febrile means feverish or highly agitated, the opposite of calm. So, the best choice precisely captures the intended temperament.