Optimist is to cheerful as pessimist is to what?

Optimist is to cheerful as pessimist is to what?

• A. gloomy
• B. mean
• C. petty
• D. helpful

Answer: (A)

The relationship between the words "optimist" and "cheerful" highlights a connection between personality types and their typical emotional states or attitudes. An optimist is characterized by a tendency to expect positive outcomes, which correlates with a cheerful demeanor.

Using this analogy, a pessimist is someone who generally expects negative outcomes or has a tendency to focus on the downside of situations. Therefore, the corresponding word to describe a pessimist’s typical emotional state would be one that reflects negativity or lack of hope. "Gloomy" effectively captures this sentiment, as it describes someone who is often downcast or sad, which aligns with the typical perspective of a pessimist.

The other options do not maintain a similar relationship. "Mean" relates to someone's demeanor or behavior, but does not convey a direct emotional state. "Petty" suggests a focus on trivial matters, and "helpful" indicates a willingness to assist others, neither of which aligns with the inherent negativity associated with pessimism. Hence, the best choice that mirrors the relationship of emotional state to personality type established in the first part of the analogy is "gloomy."