Direction: Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it. "Aha! said the undertaker; looking up from the book, and pausing in the middle of a word; ‘is that you, Bumble?" ‘No one else, Mr. Sowerberry,' replied the beadle. 'Here! I've brought the boy.' Oliver made a bow. 'Oh! that's the boy, is it? said the undertaker: raising the candle above his head, to get a better view of Oliver. 'Mrs. Sowerberry, will you have the goodness to come here a moment, my dear?" Mrs. Sowerberry emerged from a little room behind the shop, and presented the form of a short, then, squeezed-up woman, with a vixenish countenance. 'My dear,' said Mr. Sowerberry, ‘this is the boy from the workhouse that I told you of' Oliver bowed again. 'Dear me!' said the undertaker's wife, ‘he's very small.' "Why, he IS rather small,’ replied Mr. Bumble: looking at Oliver as if it were his fault that he was no bigger; 'he is small. There's no denying it. But he'll grow, Mrs. Sowerberry- he'll grow.' ‘Ah! I dare say he will,' replied the lady pettishly, ‘on our victuals and our drink. I see no saving in parish children, not I; for they always cost more to keep, than they're worth. However, men always think they know best. There! Get downstairs, little bag o' bones.’ With this, the undertaker's wife opened a side door, and pushed Oliver down a steep flight of stairs into a stone cell, damp and dark: forming the ante-room to the coal-cellar, and denominated ‘kitchen’; wherein sat a slatternly girl, in shoes down at heel, and blue worsted stockings very much out of repair. ‘Here, Charlotte,’ said Mr. Sowerberry, who had followed Oliver down, 'give this boy some of the cold bits that were put by for Trip. He hasn't come home since the morning, so he may go without 'em. I dare say the boy isn't too dainty to eat ‘em--are you, boy?" Oliver, whose eyes had glistened at the mention of meat, and who was trembling with eagerness to devour it, replied in the negative; and a plateful of coarse broken victuals was set before him.
Match the words with their meaning. 1. Vixenish a. Food 2. Countenance b. Fox like 3. Victuals c. Face
1 - b, 2 - c, 3 - a
Analyzing Vocabulary in the Passage
The question asks us to match specific words from the provided passage with their corresponding meanings. Let's break down each word as used in the text.
Understanding the Key Vocabulary
- Vixenish: The passage describes Mrs. Sowerberry as having a "vixenish countenance." The word 'vixen' refers to a female fox, which is often associated with being cunning, malicious, or ill-tempered. Therefore, "vixenish" describes someone with traits similar to a vixen, often implying an unpleasant or spiteful nature. Looking at the options, "Fox like" fits this description.
- Countenance: The phrase "vixenish countenance" refers to Mrs. Sowerberry's facial expression or appearance. Countenance is the face or facial expression. The provided meaning "Face" directly matches this definition.
- Victuals: Mrs. Sowerberry mentions feeding Oliver "on our victuals and our drink." Victuals are provisions or stores of food. The provided meaning "Food" matches this term.
Matching the Words to Meanings
Based on the definitions derived from the passage context and general vocabulary, we can make the following matches:
- 1. Vixenish matches with b. Fox like
- 2. Countenance matches with c. Face
- 3. Victuals matches with a. Food
This gives us the pairing: 1 - b, 2 - c, 3 - a.
Tabular Summary of Matching
| Word | Meaning | Option Letter |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Vixenish | Fox like | b |
| 2. Countenance | Face | c |
| 3. Victuals | Food | a |
The correct matching is 1 - b, 2 - c, 3 - a.
Revision Table: Passage Vocabulary
| Word from Passage | Context in Passage | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Vixenish | "a vixenish countenance" | Having characteristics associated with a vixen; often implying ill-tempered or spiteful. |
| Countenance | "a vixenish countenance" | A person's face or facial expression. |
| Victuals | "on our victuals and our drink" | Food or provisions. |
Additional Information: Literary Vocabulary
Passages from literature often use vocabulary that might be less common in everyday speech. Understanding these words is crucial for comprehending the text fully.
- Context Clues: When you encounter an unfamiliar word, look at the surrounding words and sentences. The context can often provide clues about the word's meaning. For example, describing a "vixenish countenance" suggests something about the person's appearance or mood.
- Root Words: Knowing common root words, prefixes, and suffixes can help decode meanings. "Vixenish" is derived from "vixen".
- Dictionary Use: For precise definitions, especially when context is unclear, consulting a dictionary is the best approach.
- Common Older Terms: Words like "victuals" are more common in older texts and literature than in modern conversation. Recognizing these helps with reading classic works.
By practicing vocabulary analysis within different contexts, readers can significantly improve their comprehension skills.
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'?
