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Question

Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it.

Tens of thousands of people who lost their homes in a catastrophic earthquake huddled around campfires in the bitter cold and clamoured for food and water on Thursday, three days after the temblor hit Turkey and Syria and killed more than 19,300 on Monday, 6th February, 2023.

Emergency crews used pick axes, shovels and jackhammers to dig through twisted metal and concrete - and occasionally still pulled out survivors.

In the Turkish city of Antakya, dozens scrambled for aid in front of a truck distributing children's coats and other supplies. Many of those who lost their homes found shelter in tents, stadiums and other temporary accommodation, but others slept outdoors.

In Antakya, over 100 bodies were awaiting identification in a makeshift morgue outside a hospital.

Authorities called off search-and-rescue operations in the cities of Kilis and Sanliurfa, where destruction was not as severe as in other impacted regions.

The U.N. is authorised to deliver aid through only one border crossing, and road damage has prevented that thus far. U.N. Officials pleaded for humanitarian concerns to take precedence over wartime politics.

The scale of loss and suffering remained massive. Turkish authorities said on Thursday that the death toll had risen to more than 16,100 in the country, with more than 64,000 injured. In Syria, which includes government-held and rebel-held areas, more than 3,100 have been reported dead and more than 5,000 injured.

Rescue teams urged quiet in the hope of hearing stifled pleas for help, and the Syrian paramedic group known as the White Helmets noted that every second could mean saving a life. But more and more often, the teams pulled out dead bodies.

It was not clear how many people were still unaccounted for in both countries. Turkey's disaster-management agency said more than 110,000 rescue personnel were now taking part in the effort and more than 5,500 vehicles, including tractors, cranes, bulldozers and excavators had been shipped.

The Foreign Ministry said 95 countries have offered help. More than half of that number have sent a total of nearly 6,500 rescuers. Another 2,400 more are still expected to arrive. International aid for Syria was far more sparse.

Efforts there have been hampered by the civil war and the isolation of the rebel-held region along the border that is surrounded by Russia-backed government forces.

Match the words with their meaning.

Words meanings

a.

clamoured

1.

checked

b.

scrambled

2.

screamed

c.

hampered

3.

jostled

This question was previously asked in
SSC CGL 2022 Tier-II (Paper 2 JSO) Previous Year Paper (04-Mar-2023)
The correct answer is

a - 2, b - 3, c - 1

Reading Passage Analysis: Understanding Vocabulary in Context

The question asks us to match words from the provided passage about the Turkey and Syria earthquake with their correct meanings. To do this effectively, we need to read the passage carefully and understand how each word is used in its specific sentence and surrounding text. This process is crucial for building strong vocabulary and comprehension skills.

Identifying the Words and Their Context

The three words we need to match are 'clamoured', 'scrambled', and 'hampered'. Let's find them in the passage:

  • "Tens of thousands of people who lost their homes... clamoured for food and water..."
  • "In the Turkish city of Antakya, dozens scrambled for aid in front of a truck distributing children's coats and other supplies."
  • "Efforts there have been hampered by the civil war and the isolation of the rebel-held region along the border..."

Step-by-Step Solution: Matching Words to Meanings

Now, let's analyse each word based on its usage in the earthquake passage and match it with the given meanings: 'checked', 'screamed', and 'jostled'.

Analysing Each Word in Context

Word 1: Clamoured

The passage says people "clamoured for food and water". This describes how the affected people were asking for help and supplies. Clamouring involves making a loud noise, often expressing a demand or protest. Out of the given meanings, 'screamed' implies making loud cries, which aligns well with the idea of demanding something urgently in a desperate situation.

Word 2: Scrambled

The passage states that people "scrambled for aid". When people scramble for something, they are competing or struggling with others to get it quickly, often pushing and shoving in the process. This action is best described by 'jostled', which means to push, elbow, or bump against someone repeatedly, typically in a crowd.

Word 3: Hampered

The passage mentions that efforts have been "hampered by the civil war". To hamper something means to hinder or impede its movement or progress. It means something is preventing the efforts from succeeding or moving forward easily. The meaning 'checked' can mean to stop or slow down the progress of something. In this context, 'checked' fits the idea of efforts being hindered or obstructed by the civil war.

Matching Words to Meanings

Based on our analysis of the context:

  • 'clamoured' matches with 'screamed'.
  • 'scrambled' matches with 'jostled'.
  • 'hampered' matches with 'checked'.

Let's list the matches:

  • a. clamoured → 2. screamed
  • b. scrambled → 3. jostled
  • c. hampered → 1. checked

Final Answer Match for Earthquake Vocabulary

The matching pairs are a - 2, b - 3, and c - 1.

Word Meaning in Context Given Meaning Match
a. clamoured Demanding loudly 2. screamed a - 2
b. scrambled Competed/pushed to get quickly 3. jostled b - 3
c. hampered Hindered/obstructed 1. checked c - 1

Revision Table: Key Vocabulary from Earthquake Passage

Here is a summary table to help you revise the meanings of these important words from the passage.

Word Meaning Example from Passage
clamoured Made a loud and insistent demand people... clamoured for food and water
scrambled Moved quickly and awkwardly to get or do something; competed to get something dozens scrambled for aid
hampered Hindered or impeded the movement or progress of Efforts... have been hampered by the civil war

Additional Information: Expanding Your Vocabulary

Understanding words in context is a powerful way to learn new vocabulary. Let's look a bit more at the words used in the passage about the Turkey and Syria earthquake.

Clamoured: This word often implies a group of people making a loud, confused noise, especially shouting or calling out. It suggests urgency and desperation, fitting the context of earthquake survivors needing help.

Scrambled: While it can mean climbing quickly, in this context, it means competing or struggling to get something quickly, often physically, like pushing or shoving (jostling) in a crowd trying to reach limited resources like aid supplies.

Hampered: This word is commonly used to describe something that makes it difficult for an activity to be carried out. Obstacles like civil war or damaged roads can severely hamper rescue and aid efforts, as described in the passage.

Learning vocabulary this way, by seeing how words are used in real-world situations like the earthquake disaster, helps you remember their meanings and use them correctly yourself.

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