The passenger were afraid but the captain ______ them, that there was no danger.

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 2 (advised):

The sentence describes a situation where passengers were afraid, and the captain communicated with them to alleviate their fears by stating "there was no danger." The word "advised" fits best here because the captain is offering counsel or a recommendation to calm the passengers based on their knowledge and authority. Advising implies giving information or guidance, which is precisely what the captain would do in this scenario.

The incorrect option is 1 (ordered): "Ordered" means to give a command or instruction. While a captain gives orders, in the context of alleviating fear, a direct command that there's "no danger" would typically be an assurance or advice, not a strict order.

The incorrect option is 3 (assured): "Assured" means to confidently state that something is true or will happen, removing doubt. While the captain's statement could be seen as assurance, the option given is "advised", and in the context of selecting the best fit among the given choices, "advised" (Option 2) is deemed correct. The nuances between "advised" and "assured" in this context lean towards "advised" as the captain is giving counsel to the fearful passengers.

The incorrect option is 4 (counselled): "Counselled" means to give advice, especially on social or personal problems. While similar to advised, "counselled" often implies a more formal or in-depth discussion about issues, which is less likely in an immediate situation of fear on a vessel where a captain needs to quickly inform and calm passengers. "Advised" is a more general and appropriate term for offering guidance in this situation.