Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow. My grandmother, like everybody’s grandmother, was an old woman. She had been old and wrinkled for the twenty years that I had known her. People said that she once had been young and pretty and had even had a husband, but that was hard to believe. My grandfather’s portrait hung above the mantelpiece in the drawing room. He wore a big turban and loose fitting clothes. His long, white beard covered the best part of his chest and he looked at least a hundred years old. He did not look the sort of person who would have a wife or children. He looked as if he could only have lots and lots of grandchildren. As my grandmother being young and pretty, the thought was almost revolting. She often told us of the games she used to play as a child. That seemed quite absurd and undignified on her part and we treated it like the fables of the Prophets she used to tell us.
Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the given word. Revolting
Finding the Antonym of 'Revolting' Based on the Passage
The question asks for the most appropriate antonym of the word "Revolting" as used in the given passage. An antonym is a word that means the opposite of another word.
Let's look at how the word "revolting" is used in the passage:
"As my grandmother being young and pretty, the thought was almost revolting."
In this sentence, the author is expressing a strong negative reaction to the idea of their grandmother being young and pretty. The word "revolting" here means causing intense distaste or disgust; highly unpleasant.
Now, let's examine the given options to find the word that means the opposite of causing intense distaste or being highly unpleasant:
- Option 1: Attractive - This word means pleasing or appealing to the senses or mind. If something is "attractive," it is the opposite of being unpleasant, distasteful, or disgusting.
- Option 2: Unpleasant - This word means not pleasant or agreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness. This is similar in meaning to "revolting" in this context, so it is a synonym, not an antonym.
- Option 3: Rebel - This word typically refers to a person who opposes or fights against an established government or authority. While related to the verb "revolt" (meaning to rise in rebellion), the adjective "revolting" in the passage means disgusting or repellent, not rebellious. This is not the correct antonym.
- Option 4: Peace - This word means freedom from disturbance; tranquility. It is not related to the meaning of "revolting" as causing disgust or being unpleasant.
Considering the context in the passage and the meanings of the options, the most appropriate antonym for "revolting" (meaning highly unpleasant or causing disgust) is "Attractive" (meaning pleasing or appealing).
Understanding the Word 'Revolting'
The word 'revolting' can be used in two main ways:
- As an adjective meaning highly unpleasant; disgusting; repulsive. This is the sense used in the given passage.
- As the present participle of the verb 'revolt', meaning to rise in rebellion or feel disgust/revulsion.
In the phrase "the thought was almost revolting," the adjective form is used to describe the author's strong negative feeling towards the idea.
Why 'Attractive' is the Correct Antonym
'Revolting' describes something that causes strong dislike or disgust. 'Attractive' describes something that causes pleasure or interest. Therefore, 'Attractive' is the direct opposite in meaning to 'Revolting' when used to describe something unpleasant or disgusting.
| Word | Meaning (in context) | Opposite Meaning | Antonym Option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revolting | Highly unpleasant; disgusting | Pleasing; appealing | Attractive |
Revision Table: Key Vocabulary from the Passage
| Word | Meaning | Example from Passage (or related) |
|---|---|---|
| Wrinkled | Having lines or folds in the skin | "She had been old and wrinkled..." |
| Mantelpiece | A shelf above a fireplace | "...hung above the mantelpiece..." |
| Turban | A type of headwear consisting of a long piece of cloth wound around the head | "He wore a big turban..." |
| Absurd | Wildly unreasonable, illogical, or inappropriate | "That seemed quite absurd..." |
| Undignified | Appearing foolish or unsuitable for a serious or formal occasion | "...and undignified on her part..." |
| Fables | Short stories, typically with animals as characters, conveying a moral | "...like the fables of the Prophets she used to tell us." |
Additional Information: Understanding Antonyms
Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings. They are important for building vocabulary and understanding the nuances of language. Here are some examples of antonym pairs:
- Hot – Cold
- Up – Down
- Happy – Sad
- Big – Small
- Love – Hate
Identifying the correct antonym for a word often depends on the context in which the word is used. A word can have multiple meanings, and its antonym will vary depending on which meaning is relevant.
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'?
