UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) Practice Test

What does it mean to 'condescend'?

1. To treat others equally

2. To agree to do something considered beneath one’s status

3. To refuse assistance to others

4. To speak in an unfamiliar language

The correct answer is: To agree to do something considered beneath one’s status

To condescend means to agree to do something that is considered beneath one’s status or dignity. This term often carries a negative connotation, as it implies a sense of superiority where a person lowers themselves to assist or engage with someone perceived as inferior. For instance, if someone in a high position offers help to someone in a much lower position, they may be seen as condescending if they do so with an attitude that suggests they are magnanimously stooping down to the other’s level. The first option, which suggests treating others equally, contradicts the definition of condescend, as it implies a lack of superiority. Refusing assistance doesn’t align with the meaning either; condescension inherently involves offering help, albeit in a patronizing manner. Speaking in an unfamiliar language does not relate to the concept of condescension at all, as it doesn’t involve status or an attitude of superiority. The correct understanding centers on the idea of lowering oneself, which characterizes the act of condescending.