2022 · Q16
Directions : In the following questions a pair of similar sounding words is provided. You are required to select the option that most appropriately describes the meaning of both the words and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.
‘Sympathy’ and ‘Empathy’
EnglishUsage of Paired Words
- ASympathy means sharing another’s feelings and Empathy means understanding another’s feelings
- BSympathy means expressing another’s feelings and Empathy means sharing another’s feelings
- CSympathy means pitying another’s feelings and Empathy means emphasising another’s feelings
- DSympathy means emphasising another’s feelings and Empathy means pitying another's feelings
Explanation
"Sympathy" is sharing or feeling for another person's emotions - feeling with them from one's own standpoint. "Empathy" is the capacity to understand another's feelings by imaginatively placing oneself in their position. Option A captures this standard distinction; the other options swap or distort the meanings. Hence option A.