Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow. We sit in the last row, bumped about but free of stares. The bus rolls out of the dull crossroads of the city, and we are soon in the open countryside, with fields of sunflowers as far as the eye can see, their heads all facing us. Where there is no water, the land reverts to the desert. While still on level ground, we see in the distance the tall range of the Mount Bogda, abrupt like a shining prism laid horizontally on the desert surface. It is over 5,000 metres high, and the peaks are under permanent snow, in powerful contrast to the flat desert all around. Heaven lake lies part of the way up this range, about 2,000 metres above sea level, at the foot of one of the highest snow-peaks. As the bus climbs, the sky, brilliant before, grows overcast. I have brought nothing warm to wear. It is all down at the hotel in Urumqi. Rain begins to fall. The man behind me is eating overpoweringly smelly goat’s cheese. The bus window leaks inhospitably but reveals a beautiful view. We have passed quickly from the desert through arable land to pasture and the ground is now green with grass, the slopes dark with pine. A few cattle drink at a clear stream flowing past moss-covered stones; it is a Constable landscape. The stream changes into a white torrent, and as we climb higher I wish more and more that I had brought with me something warmer than the pair of shorts that have served me so well in the desert. The stream (which, we are told, rises in Heaven Lake) disappears, and we continue our slow ascent. About noon, we arrive at Heaven Lake, and look for a place to stay at the foot, which is the resort area. We get a room in a small cottage, and I am happy to note that there are thick quilts on the bed. Standing outside the cottage, we survey our surroundings. Heaven Lake is long, sardine-shaped and fed by snowmelt from a stream at its head. The lake is an intense blue, surrounded on all sides by green mountain walls, dotted with distant sheep. At the head of the lake, beyond the delta of the inflowing stream, is a massive snow-capped peak which dominates the vista; it is part of a series of peaks that culminate, a little out of view, in Mount Bogda itself. For those who live in the resort, there is a small mess-hall by the shore. We eat here sometimes, and sometimes buy food from the vendors outside, who sell kabab and naan until the last buses leave. The kababs, cooked on skewers over charcoal braziers, are particularly good; highly spiced and well-done. Horse’s milk is available too from the local Kazakh herdsmen, but I decline this. I am so affected by the cold that Mr. Cao, the relaxed young man who runs the mess, lends me a spare pair of trousers, several sizes too large but more than comfortable. Once I am warm again, I feel a pre-dinner spurt of energy—dinner will be long in coming—and I ask him whether the lake is good for swimming in
Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the word ‘accept’ from the passage
Decline
Finding the Antonym of 'Accept' in the Passage
The question asks us to identify the most appropriate antonym of the word 'accept' specifically from the given passage about a journey to Heaven Lake and Mount Bogda.
'Antonym' refers to a word that means the opposite of another word. We need to find a word in the provided text that conveys the opposite meaning of 'accept'.
Let's carefully read the passage again, looking for words that might mean the opposite of accepting something offered or presented.
The passage contains the following sentence:
"Horse’s milk is available too from the local Kazakh herdsmen, but I decline this."
In this sentence, the narrator is presented with horse's milk and chooses not to take it or drink it. The word used to describe this action is 'decline'.
Let's consider the meaning of 'accept' and 'decline' in this context:
- Accept: To receive something offered; to consent to receive.
- Decline: To politely refuse or turn down an offer or invitation.
Based on these definitions, 'decline' is a direct antonym for 'accept'. The narrator was offered horse's milk, and they declined it, meaning they did not accept it.
Now let's look at the given options:
- Reject
- Refuse
- Decline
- Turn down
All the options listed (Reject, Refuse, Decline, Turn down) are generally considered antonyms of 'accept'. However, the question specifically requires the antonym to be selected from the passage.
Upon reviewing the passage, the word 'decline' is explicitly used. The other words ('Reject', 'Refuse', 'Turn down') are not present in the text.
Therefore, the word from the passage that is the most appropriate antonym of 'accept' is 'decline'.
Detailed Analysis of Options
- Reject: This is an antonym of 'accept', meaning to dismiss as inadequate, unacceptable, or faulty. It is not found in the passage.
- Refuse: This is an antonym of 'accept', meaning to indicate or show that one is not willing to do something. It is not found in the passage.
- Decline: This is an antonym of 'accept', meaning to politely refuse or turn down. This word is present in the passage ("I decline this [horse's milk]").
- Turn down: This is a phrasal verb that is an antonym of 'accept', meaning to refuse an offer or request. It is not found in the passage.
Only 'Decline' appears in the given passage and functions as an antonym for 'accept' in the context of the sentence.
Revision Table: Antonyms and Synonyms
| Word | Meaning | Antonyms (General) | Synonyms (General) | Found in Passage? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accept | To receive willingly | Decline, Refuse, Reject, Turn down | Receive, Take, Consent | No (Antonym sought) |
| Decline | To politely refuse | Accept | Refuse, Reject, Turn down | Yes |
Additional Information on Vocabulary
Understanding synonyms and antonyms is a key part of vocabulary building for reading comprehension. Synonyms are words with similar meanings, while antonyms have opposite meanings.
When answering questions based on a passage, it's crucial to adhere strictly to the information and vocabulary provided within that specific text. Even if several options are generally correct antonyms, only the one found in the passage can be the correct answer if the question specifies it.
In this case, while 'Reject', 'Refuse', and 'Turn down' are all valid antonyms for 'Accept' in English, the passage only uses the word 'Decline' to express the act of not accepting something.
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