Read the passage and answer the question that follows :

Why do people get stressed? Adolescents are faced with the demands of their developmental task and that of a complex society. They need to acquire skills of adjustment to emerge into adulthood unaffected by these demands. If they lack these skills or if too many demands are made on them, they fail. Students are anxious, as they are worried about whether they would be able to live up to the expectations of their peers, parents and teachers. Optimal anxiety motivates and keeps them ahead while over-anxiety is disabling. Anxiety is contagious and passes onto other students, teachers and parents. Adolescents, when stressed out, tend to perceive everything as an emergency.

Choose the antonym for the word 'optimal' :

Question

Read the passage and answer the question that follows :

Why do people get stressed? Adolescents are faced with the demands of their developmental task and that of a complex society. They need to acquire skills of adjustment to emerge into adulthood unaffected by these demands. If they lack these skills or if too many demands are made on them, they fail. Students are anxious, as they are worried about whether they would be able to live up to the expectations of their peers, parents and teachers. Optimal anxiety motivates and keeps them ahead while over-anxiety is disabling. Anxiety is contagious and passes onto other students, teachers and parents. Adolescents, when stressed out, tend to perceive everything as an emergency.

Choose the antonym for the word 'optimal' :

Accepted Answer

The task is to find the antonym for the word 'optimal'. Let's analyze the options provided:

1. **Enamel**: This word refers to a type of coating or finish, often used in the context of teeth or pottery. It has no relation to the concept of being optimal or ideal. Therefore, it is not an antonym for 'optimal'.

2. **Decimal**: This term is related to numbers and the base-10 number system. It does not convey any meaning related to the quality or condition of being optimal. Hence, it is not an antonym for 'optimal'.

3. **Unideal**: The word 'optimal' refers to the best or most favorable condition. The prefix 'un-' in 'unideal' suggests the opposite of ideal, which aligns with the concept of being less than the best or not favorable. Therefore, 'unideal' is an appropriate antonym for 'optimal', as it signifies a state that is not the best or most favorable.

4. **Imaginable**: This word pertains to something that can be imagined or conceived in the mind. It does not relate to the quality of being optimal or ideal. Thus, it is not an antonym for 'optimal'.

In conclusion, Option 3, 'unideal', is the correct antonym for 'optimal' because it directly opposes the idea of being the best or most favorable, which is the essence of the word 'optimal'. The other options do not convey this opposite meaning and are therefore incorrect.