Hello coaches and teachers,
I ran into this question:
Pride is to downfall as overconfidence is to
a) Setback
b) Failure
c) Comeuppance
d) Humiliation
Now I figured that the obvious consequence of overconfidence must be failure, so I chose B)
Am I right?
Hi Tort,
This particular question of yours doesn’t seem to have much to do with the English grammar or, come to that, with learning English. It is more like one of those perspicacity tests.
Its purpose may be that of improving one’s vocabulary, though.
My choice would be ‘‘humiliation’’ as a ‘consequence’ to ‘‘overconfidence’’, but I agree that, just as easily, ‘‘failure’’ could be your right answer.
I take it that there is no way you could find out the ‘‘right answer’’ from the writers of this test, themselves ?
My line of reasoning leads me to agree with Cristina:
‘Pride’ > something goes wrong > the thing you have pride in fails > This is your ‘downfall’
‘Overconfidence’ > something goes wrong > the thing you have confidence in fails “failure” > This is your ‘humiliation’
However, I also agree that this is more a question of perspicacity (a lovely-sounding word not used often enough. Thank you, Cristina!). I think if I had “run into” that particular question and had any choice in the matter, then I’d have run away from it - quite possibly screaming as I did so!
I agree that “humiliation” is the answer. Failure seems too weak a result given the upshot of pride, which could actually be considered weaker than overconfidence. Therefore, I suspect, overconfidence should yield something at least as bad as pride would, and the closest thing is humiliation.
I used to use the word “perspicacious,” and while I like its sound, I rarely use it now. I think “perspicacity” sounds rather unappealing.
Thanks everybody!
In fact I heard this question on an episode of The Simpsons yesterday, and there was no answer given. Lisa (one of the characters) was thinking the same thing - they are all correct, how do I chose.
I was thinking maybe you guys would know the right answer. =)
HI all,
I do agree with answer b. As pride is not good. Be ahead, but don’t become proud on anything. To me all are according to the desire of a super power. But we have to do our duty to the best with dedication. If you gain or achieve whether, wealth or fame it all depends on your efforts and the decision from Almighty. Confidence is good and is required to progress. Overconfidence will get into more falls than gains.
Thanks for the topic at least get an opportunity to express some idea.
With best wishes,
Jolly
With no additional context, I can say I would be shocked if “setback” were the answer. Overconfidence is often a form of excessive pride, whereas pride itself need not be immoderate. (The result suggests we mean arrogance anyway, though.) Therefore, I would not expect confidence to lead to a mere setback if its near-equal or somewhat greater counterpart caused ruin.
“Comeuppance” is somewhat off. It suggests karmic retribution for bad behavior. Arrogance may be a vice, but rarely does it alone cause us to utter “What goes around comes around.”
That, to me, leaves “failure” and “humiliation.” Since the latter is inherently strong and the other can be as basic as flunking a math test, I opt for the latter. I could be wrong, but this is how I would narrow this down.
If Lisa was thinking it you can be certain it’s right. She’s a genius, after all.
Homer is my hero though.
If the test writers considered “overconfidence” a somewhat lesser form of pride, “failure” could well be the answer. You have to draw parallels between the answers, too, and I guess it is closer to downfall than humiliation in that the latter focuses more on reputation and emotion. A downfall, like any failure, relates directly to success. If overconfidence is considered a somewhat lesser vice than pride, this completes the analogy better on both sides than “humiliation.”
These are the only two answers that seem strong to me, though.
@ Beeesneees: You are welcome…About the running part, that was what I did when I first read Tort’s question yesterday, just did that quietly since I am not much of a screamer myself. This morning I noticed that nobody had answered his question yet, so I thought: ‘‘Alright then, I’ll have pity on him and tell him what I think !’’
…just kidding Tort!
@ Mordant: To me, the word ‘‘perspicacity’’ represents best the type of tests I was talking about. What other word would you say that could replace it ?..sharpness, cleverness ?
@ Tort: I also said the two possible answers could be ‘‘humiliation’’ or ‘‘failure’’, only. But I’m no genius…
@ Jgeorge: You are right, posting replies or new topics on the forum is a great way to practice your English – since you are not only reading what was written by others, but then you have to try and translate your thoughts into intelligible English sentences as well.
We can say reasoning, perceptiveness, acuity, sharpness, etc.