'How are you today?' I asked.
'Oh! much better,' she replied and immediately changed the subject.
Mostly she liked to talk about her pets and the ones she had known right back to her girlhood. She spoke a lot too, about the days her family was alive. She loved to describe the escapades of her three brothers and today she showed me a photograph which Mrs. Broadwith had found.
'Oh, they were young rips!' she exclaimed. She laughed and for a moment her face was radiant, by her memories.
The things I had heard in the village came back to me; about the prosperous father and his family who lived in the big house once. Then the foreign investments crashed and the sudden change in circumstances. 'When the old father died, he was almost penniless, one old man said. "There is not much brass there now."
Probably just enough brass to keep Miss Stubbs and her animals alive and pay Mrs. Broadwith. And, sitting there, I felt as I had often a bit afraid of the responsibility I had. The one thing which brought some light into the life of the brave old woman was the devotion of this shaggy bunch whose eyes were never far from her face.
Identify the meaning of the underlined word in the following sentence by selecting the best option :-
"She loved to describe the escapades of her three brothers....."
Escapades Meaning: Contextual Analysis
The question asks us to determine the meaning of the word "escapades" as used in the sentence: "She loved to describe the escapades of her three brothers.....". To understand the correct meaning, we need to look at the context provided in the passage.
Analyzing the Context
The passage describes Miss Stubbs talking about her family, specifically her three brothers. Later, when shown a photograph, she exclaims, "Oh, they were young rips!". The term "young rips" typically refers to lively, energetic, and often mischievous young people. This description provides a strong clue about the nature of the "escapades" she liked to describe.
Evaluating the Options
Let's examine each option to see which best fits the context:
- Option 1: grave acts- "Grave" means very serious or solemn. The context, especially the mention of "young rips," suggests the opposite of grave or serious behavior. Therefore, this option is unlikely.
- Option 2: funny acts- While some escapades can be funny, "funny acts" is a broad term. Escapades usually imply a specific type of action, often involving adventure or breaking rules in a lighthearted way, rather than just being amusing.
- Option 3: serious sober acts- Similar to "grave acts," this option describes behavior that is the opposite of what is implied by "young rips." The brothers' actions were likely not serious or sober.
- Option 4: mischievous acts- "Mischievous" means causing or showing a fondness for causing trouble or annoyance in a playful way. This definition aligns perfectly with the idea of "young rips" and adventurous, possibly rule-breaking, youthful activities. Escapades are often characterized by playful naughtiness or daring adventures.
Conclusion on Meaning
Based on the context provided by the phrase "young rips" and the general understanding of the word "escapades" as adventurous or daring exploits, the most fitting meaning is "mischievous acts." These are actions that are often playful, adventurous, and might involve a bit of lighthearted rule-breaking.
Important Questions from Synonyms or Antonyms
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