Which term describes a person who challenges cherished beliefs or institutions?

• A. Gregarious
• B. Fortuitous
• C. Iconoclast
• D. Hackneyed

Answer: (C)

The main concept being tested is identifying a term for someone who challenges cherished beliefs or institutions. An iconoclast is exactly that: a person who attacks or questions long-held ideas, traditions, or authorities, often aiming to overturn them or push for change. The image-breaking origin of the word—historically, those who destroyed religious icons—helps explain the broader sense of challenging accepted norms rather than simply disagreeing with something. This makes it the best fit because it directly conveys the act of challenging established beliefs, not mere sociability, luck, or overused phrases. For contrast, gregarious means sociable, fortuitous means happening by chance, and hackneyed means overused or lacking originality; none of these captures the idea of challenging cherished institutions.