The following question has a short passage. After the passage, you will find some items based on the passage. First, read the passage and answer the items based on it. You are required to select your answers based on the contents of the passage and opinion of the author only. Over-population is the most pressing of India’s numerous and multi-faceted problems. In fact, it has caused equally complex problems such as poverty, under-nourishment, unemployment and excessive fragmentation of land. Indisputably, this country has been facing a population explosion of crisis dimensions. It has largely diluted the fruits of the remarkable economic progress that the nation has made during the last four decades or so. The entire battle against poverty is thwarted by the rapid increase in the population. The tragedy is that while over-population accentuates poverty, the country’s stark poverty itself is in many areas a major cause of over-population.
“It has largely diluted the fruits of the remarkable economic progress”. Find antonym of the underlined word.
Consolidated
Understanding the Question: Finding the Antonym of 'Diluted'
The question asks for the antonym (opposite) of the word "diluted" as it is used in the provided passage. The relevant sentence is: “It has largely diluted the fruits of the remarkable economic progress”.
Analyzing the Meaning of 'Diluted' in Context
In this sentence, "diluted" is used figuratively. When something is diluted, it is made weaker, less concentrated, or spread thin. The passage states that over-population has "diluted" the "fruits" (results or benefits) of economic progress. This means the positive effects of economic growth have been weakened, lessened, or spread thin across a larger population, making them less impactful per person.
So, in this context, "diluted" means weakened, reduced in strength, or made less effective.
Finding the Antonym
We are looking for a word that means the opposite of weakening, reducing, or spreading thin the fruits of economic progress. We need a word that suggests making something stronger, more concentrated, or more effective/solid.
Evaluating the Options
Let's look at the given options:
- Coalesced: This means to come together to form one mass or whole. While it involves combining, it doesn't directly convey the idea of strengthening or concentrating an effect or result.
- Compounded: This can mean to make something worse or more intense, or to combine parts to form a whole. While it can suggest increasing intensity, especially of negative things, it doesn't fit as well as a direct opposite to weakening the positive "fruits" of progress.
- Cheapened: This means to reduce the value or quality of something. While related to negative impact, it specifically refers to value, not the strength or concentration of the "fruits" or benefits themselves.
- Consolidated: This means to make something physically stronger or more solid, or to combine (a number of things) into a single more effective or coherent whole. When applied to "fruits" or results, consolidating them means making them stronger, more solid, more concentrated, or combining fragmented results into a more substantial outcome. This is the closest opposite to "diluted" (weakened, spread thin) in this context.
Considering the figurative use of "diluted" to mean weakening the positive effects of economic progress, the opposite would be making those effects stronger, more solid, or concentrated. "Consolidated" fits this meaning best.
Conclusion
The word that is the opposite of "diluted" in the sense of weakening or spreading thin the results of economic progress is "consolidated", which means making something stronger, more solid, or more effective.
Revision Table: Key Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning in Context | Antonym |
|---|---|---|
| Diluted | Weakened, lessened, spread thin (referring to the impact of economic progress) | Consolidated |
| Consolidated | Made stronger, more solid, or more effective/concentrated | |
| Coalesced | Come together to form one mass or whole | |
| Compounded | Made worse or more intense; combined | |
| Cheapened | Reduced in value or quality |
Additional Information: Understanding Antonyms and Context
Finding the correct antonym often depends heavily on the context in which the word is used. Words can have multiple meanings, and their opposites can change depending on which meaning is relevant. In this case, "diluted" isn't used in its literal sense (like diluting juice with water), but in a figurative sense related to reducing effectiveness or strength. Therefore, we need an antonym that addresses this specific figurative meaning.
Understanding the overall theme of the passage — the negative impacts of over-population on economic progress — helps in interpreting the intended meaning of words like "diluted". The "fruits" of progress are made less substantial because they have to be shared among too many people. An antonym should reflect the idea of making these fruits more substantial or impactful.
Important Questions from Reading Comprehension
Why, according to the writer can't people be motivated to use a resource prudently?
1. They feel that others may overuse the resource
2. It is possible to substitute the resource
3. Abundance of the resource availability
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
When do people use resources exhaustively?
The self-interest of people affects the use of renewable resources
People rooted in a locality
Which among the following is closest in meaning with the word 'deplete'?
