Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow. Mani was beginning to look worried by the thought of the examinations and dogged the steps of the school clerk. There was a general belief in the school that the clerk knew all the question papers of all the classes. One day Mani went to the clerk’s house and laid a neat bundle containing fresh brinjals at his feet. The clerk was pleased and took Mani in and seated him on a stool. The clerk looked extremely amiable and Mani felt that he could ask anything at that moment and get it. The clerk was murmuring something about his cat, a lank ill fed thing, that was nestling close to him. Most of what he was saying did not enter Mani’s head. He was waiting to open the topic of question papers. The clerk had meanwhile passed from cats to eye-flies; but it made little difference to Mani, who was waiting for the other to pause for breath to launch his attack. ‘You must never let these eye-flies buzz near your eyes. All cases of eyesore can be traced to it. When you get eyesore, the only thing you can do is to take a slice of raw onion…' continued the clerk. Mani realised that the other would not stop and butted in, ‘There is only a week more for the examinations sir……’ The clerk was slightly puzzled : ‘Yes. Indeed, a week more …… Mani tried to look pathetic. ‘You see, sir, I am so worried, I don’t sleep at nights, thinking of the examination …… ’ If you could possibly tell me something important….. I have such a lot to study. I don’t want to study unnecessary things that may not be necessary for the examination. The clerk understood what he was driving at, but advised, ‘Just read all your portions and you will pass.’ Mani asked bluntly, ‘Please tell me, sir, what questions are we getting for our examination?’ The clerk denied having any knowledge of the question papers. Mani flattered him by asking, if he did not know the questions, who else would. By just a little more flattery the clerk was moved to give what Mani believed to be valuable hints. In spite of the fact that he did not know what the first form texts were, the clerk ventured to advise ‘you must pay particular attention to Geography. May be you will have to practice map-drawing a lot. And in Arithmetic make it a point to solve at least five problems every day and you will be able to tackle Arithmetic easily.’ ‘And what about English?’ asked Mani. ‘Oh, don’t worry about that. You must read all the important lessons again and if you have time, yet again and that will be ample.’ These answers satisfied Mani greatly. On his way home, he smiled to himself and said that the four annas he had invested on brinjals was not after all a waste.
Select the most appropriate synonym of the given word. Pathetic
Miserable
Let's analyze the given question which asks for the most appropriate synonym for the word "Pathetic" based on its usage in the provided passage about Mani and the school clerk.
Understanding the Word 'Pathetic' in Context
The word "pathetic" is used in the passage when describing Mani's attempt to gain sympathy from the school clerk:
"Mani tried to look pathetic."
In this sentence, Mani is trying to appear in a way that evokes pity or sympathy from the clerk. He is worried about the examinations and hasn't studied enough, so he wants the clerk to feel sorry for him and possibly reveal some exam information.
Analyzing the Options for Synonym of Pathetic
Let's look at the given options and see which one best fits the meaning of "pathetic" in the context of Mani trying to look pitiful:
- Innocent: This means free from guilt or wrongdoing. While Mani might be seen as naive in his approach, the word "pathetic" here relates to his emotional state or appearance, not his innocence.
- Ignorant: This means lacking knowledge or information. Mani admits he has "such a lot to study," suggesting he might be ignorant of the material, but "looking ignorant" isn't the same as "looking pathetic" in this context. He is trying to appear sad or worried to get sympathy, not just uninformed.
- Puzzled: This means confused or unable to understand something. The passage mentions the clerk being "slightly puzzled" by Mani's directness later, but Mani himself is not trying to look puzzled; he is trying to look distressed or worried.
- Miserable: This means feeling or showing great unhappiness or discomfort. Someone looking miserable appears very sad, unhappy, or distressed, which directly aligns with trying to look pitiful or evoke sympathy due to worry about the examination.
Identifying the Most Appropriate Synonym
Based on the context of Mani trying to evoke sympathy from the clerk due to his worry about the exams, the word "pathetic" is used to describe his attempt to appear pitiful or deserving of sympathy because of his unhappy state. The option that best captures this meaning is "Miserable", as looking miserable is a way to appear unhappy and evoke pity.
Therefore, the most appropriate synonym for "Pathetic" as used in the passage is "Miserable".
Synonym Comparison Table
| Word | Meaning | Fit in Context ("Mani tried to look...") |
|---|---|---|
| Pathetic | Evoking pity; miserably inadequate | Trying to appear pitiful or sad due to worry. |
| Innocent | Not guilty; naive | Doesn't fit the attempt to evoke pity for worry. |
| Ignorant | Lacking knowledge | Doesn't fit the attempt to evoke pity for worry. |
| Puzzled | Confused | Doesn't fit the attempt to evoke pity for worry. |
| Miserable | Unhappy; pitifully bad | Fits the attempt to appear unhappy/pitiful to get sympathy. |
Revision Table - Pathetic Synonym
| Word | Part of Speech | General Meaning | Meaning in Passage Context | Best Synonym Option |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathetic | Adjective | Evoking pity or sadness; miserably inadequate | Attempting to appear in a way that evokes pity or sympathy due to worry. | Miserable |
Additional Information on Synonyms and Context
Understanding synonyms is crucial for vocabulary building and reading comprehension. A synonym is a word or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word or phrase in the same language.
However, the best synonym for a word often depends heavily on the context in which it is used. A word can have multiple meanings, and only one or two might be relevant in a specific sentence or passage. Always consider the surrounding words and the overall situation being described to choose the most appropriate synonym.
In this case, "pathetic" can sometimes mean "ridiculously inadequate" (e.g., "a pathetic attempt"), but in the context of "trying to look pathetic" when worried about exams, it clearly leans towards evoking pity or appearing miserable.
Examining context helps us pick the most accurate word meaning and therefore the best synonym among the given options.
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'?
