Direction: Each item in this section consists of a sentence with an underlined word followed by four options. Select the option that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word mark your response in your Answer Sheet accordingly. A human being is always _vulnerable_ to other human beings.

The word 'vulnerable' refers to being open to attack, harm, or damage, and being easily hurt physically, emotionally, or morally. In the context of the sentence 'A human being is always vulnerable to other human beings,' it implies a state of being unprotected or susceptible to influence or harm. Among the given options, 'defenceless' is the nearest synonym, as it describes a state of being without protection or unable to resist an attack [2]. Other options like 'resilient' (able to withstand or recover quickly) and 'elastic' (flexible) are antonymous or unrelated in this context, while 'crude' (natural or unrefined) does not fit the meaning of susceptibility [1]. Therefore, 'defenceless' accurately captures the intended meaning of being exposed or weak in the face of others.

Sources

1. [2] https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vulnerable
2. [1] https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/vulnerable