Question

Among the following options, the antonym of the word 'nocturnal' is _________.

• A. normal
• B. diurnal
• C. abnormal
• D. exceptional

Hint:

Look for a word that names daytime activity, since "nocturnal" names nighttime activity.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Break down the word "nocturnal".
The root here relates to "night" (from the Latin "nox"), so nocturnal means happening or active at night. Owls, bats and cats are common examples of nocturnal animals.

Step 2: Find the matching root for "day".
The Latin root for day is "dies", and the adjective built from it is "diurnal", meaning happening or active during the day. This directly opposes "nocturnal" in meaning.

Step 3: Check the remaining options against this root test.
"Normal" comes from a root meaning a standard or rule, not day or night. "Abnormal" just negates "normal", again unrelated to time. "Exceptional" relates to being an exception or rare case, also unrelated to time of day. None of these three carry any link to daytime activity.

Step 4: Final answer.
Since diurnal is built from the root for day and directly contrasts with the night based root of nocturnal, it is the correct antonym.
\[ \boxed{\text{diurnal}} \]