Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow.
The Mesozoic era wasn't just the age of dinosaurs. Reptiles of all sorts thrived through the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous eras at the same time our favourite dinosaurs were roaming on land. Long-necked plesiosaurs, shark-shaped ichthyosaurs, toothy mosasaurs and many more saurians were swimming through the ancient seas, their success underwritten by a suite of anatomical specialisations.
From the time the four-paddled, long-necked Plesiosaurus was named in 1821, palaeontologists generally thought of marine reptiles as comparable to lizards, snakes and crocodiles in the terrestrial realm. Marine reptiles were thought to be cold-blooded, their body temperature determined by the surrounding seawater. And scientists didn't know whether the ancient creatures had blubber, scales, smooth skin or some other sort of body covering. During the past three decades, however, a new wave of palaeontological interest has fundamentally changed how experts think about the likes of Mosasaurus and Ichthyosaurus. The repeated evolution of reptiles that lived entirely at sea was possible thanks to an array of adaptations that are still being uncovered by researchers.
One of the features that allowed Mesozoic marine reptiles to thrive beneath the surface is that they had blubbery bodies. Many millions of years before whales and seals would evolve blubber, marine reptiles were already enjoying the benefits of the thick subcutaneous fat. In 2018, palaeontologists described a fossil of the Early Jurassic ichthyosaur Stenopterygius that preserved parts of the marine reptile's skin as well as remnants of fats and proteins that made up the animal's flesh.
Understanding the Antonym of 'Thrive'
The question asks us to identify the most suitable antonym for the word 'thrive' as it is used in the provided passage about Mesozoic marine reptiles.
Defining 'Thrive' in Context
In the passage, 'thrive' describes how reptiles, like dinosaurs and various marine creatures, were successful and developed well during the Mesozoic Era. It implies growth, prosperity, and flourishing in their environment. The text states, "Reptiles of all sorts thrived through the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous eras..." and "...features that allowed Mesozoic marine reptiles to thrive beneath the surface..." This usage clearly indicates a state of success and vigorous development.
Analyzing the Options
Let's examine each option to see which one best represents the opposite of 'thrive':
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Option 1: Prevent
To 'prevent' means to stop something from happening or arising. While the opposite of success could involve preventing growth, 'prevent' itself doesn't describe the state of *failing* to thrive. It's an action taken against something, not the state of being unsuccessful.
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Option 2: Struggle
To 'struggle' means to make forceful or violent efforts to get free or resist something, or to have difficulty handling or dealing with something. This implies difficulty, hardship, and a lack of easy success, which is a direct contrast to the state of thriving.
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Option 3: Prevail
To 'prevail' means to prove more powerful than opposing forces; to be victorious. This word is actually quite similar in meaning to 'thrive' as it suggests success and overcoming challenges, making it a synonym rather than an antonym.
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Option 4: Flourish
To 'flourish' means to grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way, especially as the result of a particularly favorable environment. This is a direct synonym for 'thrive', indicating a state of great success and development.
Selecting the Best Antonym
Comparing the options, 'struggle' is the word that best captures the opposite meaning of 'thrive'. If creatures are struggling, they are not growing or developing successfully; they are facing difficulties. The other options are either synonyms ('flourish', 'prevail') or describe an action that hinders growth ('prevent') rather than the state of failing to grow.
Therefore, the most appropriate antonym for 'thrive' in this context is 'struggle'.
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'?
