Your friends think you are conceited because you seem to __ them.

Options

A. emulate
B. penalize
C. patronize
D. cheat

Answer

C

Explanation

emulate (V.) : to try to do something as well as somebody else because you admire them.
conceited (Adj.) : having too much pride in yourself and what you do.
penalize (V.) : impose a penalty on, inflict punishment on
patronize (V.) : to treat somebody in a way that seems friendly but which shows that you think that they are not very intelligent, experienced, etc.
Here, emulate is the right option.