Question

The old man was benevolent with his fortune. What is the meaning of 'benevolent'?

• A. Secretive
• B. Stingy
• C. Careful
• D. Kind

Hint:

The prefix bene- always denotes something good or well (e.g., benefit, beneficial, benevolent).
This indicates that the definition of the word must have a positive, helpful meaning.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

The adjective "benevolent" describes a person who is kind-hearted, generous, and willing to help others. Such a person shows goodwill through their words and actions.

\[ \text{Benevolent} = \text{Kind, generous, and compassionate} \]

In the given sentence, "The old man was benevolent with his fortune," the phrase indicates that he used his wealth generously to help others instead of keeping it only for himself.

Hence, the word "Kind" is the most appropriate meaning of "benevolent".

Explanation of the other options:

• Secretive: Means keeping information hidden. It does not describe kindness or generosity.
• Stingy: Means unwilling to spend or share money. It is the opposite of benevolent.
• Careful: Means acting with caution. It is different from being kind or generous.
• Kind: Means caring, helpful, and generous towards others. This correctly expresses the meaning of benevolent.

Therefore, the correct answer is: \[ \boxed{\text{Option 4 — Kind}} \]