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Question

Item in this consists of a sentence with an underlined word followed by four words, (a), (b), (c), and (d). Select the option that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word and mark your response in your Answer Sheet accordingly.

His nostalgia is deep.

This question was previously asked in
NDA I 2021 GAT Previous Year Paper (18-Apr-2021)
The correct answer is

longing

Understanding the Question: Finding Synonyms

The question asks us to identify the word among the given options that is closest in meaning to the underlined word "nostalgia" in the sentence, "His nostalgia is deep." We need to understand the meaning of "nostalgia" to choose the correct synonym.

Defining Nostalgia

Let's break down the meaning of the term nostalgia.

  • Nostalgia is typically described as a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations.
  • It's a mixed feeling, often combining pleasant memories with a sense of sadness or regret that the past time is gone.

Consider the sentence provided: "His nostalgia is deep." This suggests a strong feeling related to the past.

Analyzing the Options

Now let's look at the meanings of the provided options:

Option Meaning Relevance to Nostalgia
(a) excitement A feeling of great enthusiasm and eagerness. Does not match the feeling of looking back at the past with wistfulness.
(b) longing A strong, persistent desire or craving. A strong desire for something from the past aligns well with the definition of nostalgia.
(c) happiness The state of being happy. While nostalgia might involve happy memories, the feeling itself is often mixed with wistfulness, not just pure happiness.
(d) ability Possession of the means or skill to do something. Completely unrelated to a feeling about the past.

Identifying the Closest Meaning

Based on the definition of nostalgia as a sentimental longing for the past, the option that is nearest in meaning is longing.

While nostalgia involves memories that were often happy, the core feeling is the wistful desire or longing for that past time.

Step-by-Step Reasoning

  1. Understand the underlined word: The word is nostalgia.
  2. Recall or deduce the meaning of nostalgia: It's a feeling about the past, often involving happy memories but also a sense of wistfulness or longing for that time.
  3. Examine each option:
    • 'excitement' is a feeling about the present or future.
    • 'longing' is a strong desire for something, which can be for the past.
    • 'happiness' is a general state, not specifically tied to a wistful look back at the past.
    • 'ability' is about capability, not feeling.
  4. Compare options to the meaning of nostalgia: The term 'longing' most accurately captures the core sense of desiring or missing a past time associated with nostalgia.

Conclusion

The word nearest in meaning to nostalgia among the given options is longing.

Revision Table: Key Vocabulary

Word Meaning Example Sentence
Nostalgia A sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past. Looking at old photos filled her with nostalgia for her childhood summers.
Longing A strong, persistent desire or craving. She felt a deep longing to see her family again.
Excitement A feeling of great enthusiasm and eagerness. There was a lot of excitement before the concert started.
Happiness The state of being happy. His promotion brought him great happiness.
Ability Possession of the means or skill to do something. She has a remarkable ability to learn languages quickly.

Additional Information: Understanding Nostalgia and Feelings

Nostalgia is a complex emotion. While it involves remembering pleasant aspects of the past, it is distinct from just recalling happy memories. It often carries a sense of loss because the past cannot be revisited. This is where the 'wistful affection' or 'sentimental longing' comes in. It's the desire for a return to that time or place, even if subconsciously, coupled with the knowledge that it's not possible.

Understanding nuanced feelings like nostalgia is important for vocabulary building and reading comprehension. Identifying the correct synonym, like longing, helps to grasp the specific kind of feeling being described.

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