"Mary is such a quiet child," said Aunt Lydia. "It makes me wonder what will become of her."

Question

Which word would give the sentence a negative tone if it replaced the word
1. calm
2. reserved
3. sullen
4. disciplined

Answer 1

The word that would give the sentence a negative tone if it replaced "quiet" is "sullen."

While "calm," "reserved," and "disciplined" can have more neutral or even positive connotations, "sullen" implies a mood of gloominess or sulkiness, which can be seen as negative.