Direction: Read the given passage and answer the question that follows. A sparrow is a small bird which is found throughout the world. There are many different species of sparrows. Sparrows are only about four to six inches in length. Many people appreciate their beautiful song. Sparrows prefer to build their nests in low places, usually on the ground, clumps of grass, low trees and low bushes. In cities they build their nests in building nooks or holes. They rarely build their nests in high places. They build their nests out of twigs, grasses and plant fibres. Their nests are usually small and well-built structures. Female sparrows lay four to six eggs at a time. The eggs are with reddish brown spots. They hatch between eleven to fourteen days. Both the male and female parents care for the young. Insects are fed to the young after hatching. The large feet of the sparrows are used for scratching seeds. Adult sparrows mainly eat seeds. Sparrows can be found almost everywhere, where there are humans. Many people throughout the world enjoy these delightful birds. The sparrows are some of the few birds that engage in dust bathing. Sparrows first scratch a hole in the ground with their feet, then lie in it and fling dirt or sand over their bodies with flicks of their wings. They also bathe in water, or in dry or melting snow. Water bathing is similar to dust bathing, with the sparrow standing in shallow water and flicking water over its back with its wings, also ducking its head under the water. Both activities are social, with up to a hundred birds participating at once, and is followed by preening and sometimes group singing.
Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the given word. Everywhere
Nowhere
Understanding Antonyms: Finding the Opposite of Everywhere
This question asks us to identify the most appropriate antonym for the word "Everywhere". An antonym is a word that has the opposite meaning of another word.
Defining the Key Term: Everywhere
The word "Everywhere" means in, at, or to every place; in all places.
The passage describes sparrows as being found "throughout the world" and "almost everywhere, where there are humans", illustrating the wide distribution implied by the word.
Analyzing the Options for the Antonym of Everywhere
Let's look at the given options and determine which one is the most appropriate antonym for "Everywhere".
- Somewhere: This word means in, at, or to some place, but not specified. It indicates existence in a place, but not all places. It is not the direct opposite of "Everywhere".
- Nowhere: This word means not anywhere; in, at, or to no place. This is the complete opposite of being in all places ("Everywhere").
- Little: This word means small in size, amount, or degree. It relates to quantity or size, not location. Therefore, it is not an antonym for "Everywhere".
- Rare: This word means not occurring very often; uncommon. It relates to frequency, not location. Therefore, it is not an antonym for "Everywhere".
Identifying the Correct Antonym
Comparing the meanings, "Everywhere" means in all places, while "Nowhere" means in no place. These two words represent opposite extremes in terms of location and presence. Thus, "Nowhere" is the most appropriate antonym for "Everywhere".
Summary of Antonyms
| Word | Meaning | Opposite Concept |
|---|---|---|
| Everywhere | In all places | Absence from all places |
| Nowhere | In no place | Complete absence |
Based on this analysis, "Nowhere" is the word that means the opposite of "Everywhere".
Revision Table: Key Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning | Antonym |
|---|---|---|
| Everywhere | In all places | Nowhere |
Additional Information: Understanding Antonyms
Antonyms are important for building vocabulary and understanding nuances in language. They can represent:
- Gradable Antonyms: Words that can be measured on a scale (e.g., hot/cold, big/small).
- Complementary Antonyms: Words where the presence of one means the absence of the other (e.g., alive/dead, on/off).
- Relational Antonyms: Words that describe a relationship from opposite perspectives (e.g., teacher/student, buy/sell).
"Everywhere" and "Nowhere" function similarly to complementary antonyms in the context of location – if something is everywhere, it is nowhere absent, and if it is nowhere, it is everywhere absent.
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'?
