Choose the most appropriate word from the options given below to complete the following sentence. Friendship, no matter how _________ it is, has its limitations. A. cordial B. intimate C. secret D. pleasant

GATE 2013 · General Aptitude · Most Appropriate Word · medium

Answer: B. intimate

1. Analyse the concessive structure: The phrase 'no matter how ___ it is, has its limitations' uses a concessive clause. It argues that even at the maximum value of the blank quality, the friendship still has limits. This structure favours the word expressing the greatest depth.
2. Rank the options by degree of closeness: pleasant < cordial < intimate in terms of closeness; secret is not a measure of closeness at all. Intimate is the superlative of friendship depth among the given choices.