Question

What does the word "buoyancy" mean as it is used in this sentence from Winston Churchill's Address to Parliament?

But I take up my task with buoyancy and hope.
Responses

A calamitycalamity

B cheerfulnesscheerfulness

C despairdespair

D malevolencemalevolence

Answer 1

B — cheerfulness.

"Buoyancy" here is figurative: like floating or being uplifted, it means cheerfulness or optimistic energy (matched by the accompanying "hope").