Which word means tending not to participate actively?

• A. Peerless
• B. Contempt
• C. Passive
• D. Lexicon

Answer: (C)

Tends not to participate actively is described by the word passive. Passive characterizes someone who does not take active action or engage readily, often following rather than leading or contributing. In everyday use, a passive person may listen and observe but refrain from taking part or taking initiative, which aligns with the idea of not actively participating.

The other words don’t fit this sense: peerless means without equal or unmatched, which talks about superiority rather than participation; contempt refers to a feeling of disdain or disrespect toward something; and lexicon means a dictionary or the vocabulary of a language. None of those convey the idea of a person’s level of active engagement, which is why passive is the correct choice.