Q6
EnglishIdioms, Phrasal Verbs & Proverbs
From the given options choose the word/phrase nearest in meaning to the proverb: 'Politeness costs little but yields much'
- a.Being polite is desirable.
- b.Politeness is a virtue that pays in long run.
- c.Politeness is powerful.
- d.Politeness can make people repent or win.
Answer: (B) Politeness is a virtue that pays in long run.
The proverb sets the small 'cost' of being polite against the large 'yield' it brings, so its point is that courtesy is a cheap investment that pays off over time, which is option B. Option A (politeness is desirable) is true but misses the cost-benefit idea, C (politeness is powerful) overstates it, and D distorts the meaning altogether. Proverbs with the same message are 'Courtesy costs nothing', 'A soft answer turneth away wrath' and 'You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar'.