Read the following passage and answer the questions below. The G-7 summit, at Carbis Bay, sent out two very strong messages. The first was driven by the United States’ new President Joseph Biden and his vow that “America is back” to take the lead on global challenges. The G-7 commitment to donate one billion coronavirus vaccines to poorer countries and to invest $12 trillion in their combined pandemic recovery plan depends on the U.S. commitments for a large part. The special communiqué on “Open Societies” for the G-7 outreach, and the invitation to “fellow democracies” India, Australia, South Korea and South Africa are also an extension of his stated commitment to convening a Democracy Summit this year. Even the slogan for the G-7, “Build Back Better”, was a White House term to declare America’s economy and jobs recovery plan. The second message was the consensus amongst the seven-member countries on countering China. The final G-7 communiqué holds no less than four direct references to China, each negative, including criticising Beijing for its rights record in Xinjiang and democratic freedoms in Hong Kong, its “non-market policies and practices...”, concerns over its actions in the China Seas, and a demand for a transparent investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 virus. Though the bonhomie among the G-7 leaders was palpable, the differences and contradictions in the grouping remain a challenge. Even two decades ago, questions were raised about whether the grouping (earlier, the G-8), could claim its mantle as the world’s “richest” countries, when emerging economies, China and India, are not included. On economic issues, the EU is a more representative unit than the individual European G-7 member countries. Finally, the premise of a group like the G-7, that of an exclusive club of the “haves” or “the best vs the rest”, seems anachronistic in a world that is much more interlinked now than in 1975, when the grouping first came about. India, a special guest to the G-7/G-8 since 2003, has also maintained its independent course.
What does the word ‘Bonhomie’ mean in the given passage?
Friendliness and happiness.
Understanding Vocabulary in Reading Comprehension
The question asks for the meaning of the word ‘Bonhomie’ as it is used in the provided passage about the G-7 summit. To determine the meaning of a word in context, it is important to read the sentence containing the word and the sentences around it.
The sentence from the passage is: “Though the bonhomie among the G-7 leaders was palpable, the differences and contradictions in the grouping remain a challenge.”
Let's break down this sentence:
- "Though" indicates a contrast between two parts of the sentence.
- "the bonhomie among the G-7 leaders was palpable" describes a quality or feeling among the leaders.
- "the differences and contradictions in the grouping remain a challenge" describes difficulties or disagreements among the members.
The word ‘Bonhomie’ is contrasted with ‘differences and contradictions’. This suggests that ‘Bonhomie’ is something positive, perhaps related to harmony or good relations, which exists despite the underlying problems.
Now let's look at the given options:
- Friendliness and happiness. This suggests a positive and amiable atmosphere among the leaders. This fits well as something that could exist alongside "differences and contradictions".
- The most contemptible kind of something. This implies something negative and deserving of scorn, which does not fit the contrast presented in the sentence.
- Shrewdness shown by keen insight. This refers to sharp intelligence or cleverness, which doesn't directly describe the relationship or mood among leaders at a summit in contrast to their disagreements.
- In an opposing direction. This relates to physical or abstract opposition in movement or stance, not a personal quality or relationship between people.
Comparing the options to the context, "Friendliness and happiness" is the meaning that best fits how ‘Bonhomie’ is used in the passage, contrasting with the challenges posed by "differences and contradictions". The word ‘Bonhomie’ generally means cheerful friendliness or geniality.
Therefore, the meaning of ‘Bonhomie’ in this context is friendliness and happiness.
Revision Table: Key Vocabulary from Passage
| Word | Meaning in Context | General Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Summit | A meeting between heads of government. | A meeting between heads of government; the highest point of a hill or mountain. |
| Palpable | Easily felt or perceived; noticeable. | Able to be touched or felt; so intense as to be almost tangible. |
| Anachronistic | Out of place in terms of time; belonging to an earlier period. | Belonging to a period other than that being discussed; outdated. |
| Bonhomie | Cheerful friendliness; geniality. | Cheerful friendliness; geniality. |
Additional Information: Using Context Clues
Understanding unfamiliar words while reading is a key skill. Often, you can figure out the meaning of a word by using context clues. Context clues are hints found in the words, phrases, and sentences surrounding the unfamiliar word.
Types of context clues include:
- Synonyms: Other words in the sentence or nearby sentences that have a similar meaning.
- Antonyms: Words or phrases that have an opposite meaning, often signaled by words like 'but', 'although', 'however', 'though'. In the passage, 'bonhomie' is contrasted with 'differences and contradictions' using 'though', indicating an antonym clue.
- Explanation or Definition: The meaning of the word is directly explained in the text.
- Example: The text provides examples that illustrate the meaning of the word.
- Inference: You can infer the meaning based on the overall situation or ideas presented.
In this question, the contrast clue (antonym) was particularly helpful in determining that ‘Bonhomie’ was something positive and related to relationships, as opposed to negative differences.
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'?
