Directions: Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it. The excitement of bird watchers on spotting a particular species for the very first time is unparalleled. With eyes shining and pride bursting, they exclaim, “I had a lifer today”, or “It was a lifer for me”. For the longest time, I couldn’t fathom what all the fuss was about. I mean, at some point in their lives, even a crow or mynah would have been a lifer — seen for the very first time. So, here, I’ve done a bit of jugaad with the term and define it as a bird that you see maybe (but not necessarily) for the first time, but which has made a lasting, life-changing impact on you. Then I recalled some of my own “lifers”. Number 1 is the little coppersmith barbet. The first bird I saw through brand new, big and powerful binoculars — and it was solely responsible for my getting interested in birds. The fellow looked like a tubby little clown with hiccups and that just blew me away. I will never forget the first time I saw grey hornbills aeons ago: over sullen grey skies in the Borivali National Park (now called Sanjay Gandhi National Park) — squealing as they flew high up across the sky. They looked as if they had just left Jurassic Park. Or, for that matter, their larger, more glamorous, cousins — Great pied hornbills. Tramping through a streambed in Kalagarh (near Corbett), we suddenly heard this rasping, whooshing, sound. Up there, in the clear blue, were six-seven huge black-and-white birds with colossal yellow beaks flying in tandem across the clear blue sky, their wings making the rasping sound. Say “paradise flycatcher” and a birder’s eyes will begin to glint: “Where? When? Will it be there now?” are questions that will be shot out like machine-gun bullets. The first time I saw a full grown milk-white-and-glossy-black male, with its glamorous 18-inch streamer tail, was at the Sultanpur National Park in Haryana. But I remember better the flycatchers, that made me run around in a tea garden in Palampur, teasingly whistling at me from one end to the other. The nesting pair in Naukuchiatal was more accommodating except that I had to stand knee-deep in the hotel’s garbage dump to get a good view of them flitting to and fro the gully nearby. To compensate, one actually flew nearly down to my feet to snatch up a bluebottle I had missed. Of course, there have been rarities: the highlight of the regular Bharatpur (the Keoladeo National Park) visits was the darshan of VIP Siberian cranes. Then they stopped coming, which was a first indication of their slow extinction — even if it was just “local” to our area. The gloriously uppity Great Indian bustards in the Karera Sanctuary (Madhya Pradesh) were another unforgettable sighting. The sheer disdain with which they flounced away from our howling, jolting jeep and took to their wings was a lesson in being put in your place. Now, not only does the sanctuary not exist anymore but those magnificent muscular birds are crashing to total extinction.
Match the words with their meaning. Words Meanings a. fathom 1. team b. aeons 2. understand c. tandem 3. ages
a-2, b-3, c-1
Analyzing Word Meanings in the Passage
The question asks us to match specific words from the provided passage with their correct meanings. To do this, we need to look at how each word is used in the passage's context and then find the option that best fits that usage.
Matching Words and Definitions
Let's analyze each word given in the question:
- a. fathom: The passage says, "For the longest time, I couldn’t fathom what all the fuss was about." Here, 'fathom' is used in the context of understanding why bird watchers get excited. Therefore, 'fathom' means to understand.
- b. aeons: The passage states, "I will never forget the first time I saw grey hornbills aeons ago...". 'Aeons' here implies a very long period of time, or ages.
- c. tandem: The passage describes birds "flying in tandem across the clear blue sky". 'In tandem' typically describes things working or moving together, often one behind the other. Among the given options, 'team' is the closest concept representing entities moving together or in coordination.
Creating the Matches
Based on the analysis:
- a. fathom matches with 2. understand.
- b. aeons matches with 3. ages.
- c. tandem matches with 1. team.
This gives us the matching set: a-2, b-3, c-1.
Reviewing the Options
Let's check which option matches our derived set:
| Option | Matching Set | Matches Our Analysis? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | a-2, b-3, c-1 | Yes |
| 2 | a-1, b-3, c-2 | No |
| 3 | a-2, b-1, c-3 | No |
| 4 | a-3, b-2, c-1 | No |
Option 1 correctly matches 'fathom' with 'understand', 'aeons' with 'ages', and 'tandem' with 'team'.
Detailed Explanation of Matches
Let's break down each match further:
- Fathom = Understand: The sentence "I couldn’t fathom what all the fuss was about" clearly implies a lack of understanding or comprehension regarding the excitement of bird watchers.
- Aeons = Ages: The phrase "aeons ago" is a common expression used to denote a very long, indefinite period in the past. This is synonymous with 'ages'.
- Tandem = Team: While 'in tandem' literally means one behind the other or together, in the context of flight or work, it implies working together as a unit or team. Of the given options, 'team' is the best fit to describe multiple birds flying together in a coordinated manner.
Thus, the correct pairing is indeed a-2, b-3, c-1.
Revision Table: Vocabulary Review
| Word | Meaning in Context | General Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Fathom | Understand the reason for excitement | To understand (a difficult problem or an enigmatic person) after much thought; to penetrate to the truth of; comprehend. |
| Aeons | Very long time ago | An indefinitely long period of time; an age. |
| Tandem | Flying together as a unit | Used to refer to two things arranged one in front of the other; working in conjunction with each other, especially simultaneously. (Relates to 'team' in the sense of working/moving together). |
Additional Information: Reading Comprehension Tips
Reading comprehension questions, especially those involving vocabulary, require careful attention to the text. Here are some tips:
- Read the passage carefully: Get the overall sense of the passage first.
- Locate the words: Find where the specific words are used in the text.
- Analyze the context: Read the sentences surrounding the word. How is it being used? What does it seem to mean based on the situation described?
- Use elimination: If you are unsure, try eliminating options that definitely do not fit the context.
- Consider common usage: If the context isn't entirely clear, think about the most common meanings of the word.
- Check all options: Even if you think you've found the right match, quickly check the other options to be sure.
Applying these steps helps in accurately matching words to their meanings based on the provided passage.
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'?
