Read the passage and answer the questions based on it. You are required to select your answers based on the contents of the passage and opinion of the author only. For many years, ship captains navigating the waters of Antarctica have been intrigued by sightings of emerald icebergs. Scientists have now explained their mystery. There, icebergs are turned upside down. Icebergs are blocks of ice that have broken off huge slabs of frozen snow called ice shelves. Their green appearance results from seawater that has frozen at the bottom over hundreds of years. The frozen sea water has dissolved organic matter which gives it a yellow tone and the fresh water ‘ice shelf’ above has a blue tinge. When the iceberg turns upside down, it appears green through the visual mix of yellow with the blue from below.
What is the meaning of ‘intrigued’?
Fascinated
Analyzing the Question: Understanding 'Intrigued'
The question asks for the meaning of the word ‘intrigued’ as it is used in the provided passage about emerald icebergs in Antarctica. To answer this, we need to look at the sentence where the word appears and consider the context.
Contextual Meaning from the Passage
The passage states:
“For many years, ship captains navigating the waters of Antarctica have been intrigued by sightings of emerald icebergs.”
This sentence tells us that ship captains saw emerald icebergs and felt a certain way about these sightings over a long period. The word ‘intrigued’ describes their feeling or reaction to seeing these unusual icebergs.
When someone is ‘intrigued’ by something, it usually means they are very interested or curious about it, often because it is unusual, mysterious, or fascinating. They want to know more about it.
Evaluating the Options for 'Intrigued'
Let's look at the given options and see which one best fits the context of the passage:
- Surprised: This means feeling sudden astonishment or shock. While the captains might have been surprised initially by green icebergs, the passage says they were ‘intrigued’ for ‘many years’. Surprise is often a temporary feeling, whereas being intrigued suggests a longer-lasting interest or curiosity. So, 'surprised' might not be the most accurate fit for a feeling lasting many years.
- Fascinated: This means being strongly attracted to something interesting, unusual, or mysterious; being captivated or engrossed. This fits well with the idea of ship captains observing unusual emerald icebergs for years and being deeply interested or curious about them. Fascination can last a long time.
- Muffled: This means making a sound quieter or less distinct, usually by covering it. This word describes sound and has no relevance to how someone feels about seeing an iceberg.
- Repulsed: This means feeling intense distaste or aversion; finding something disgusting or horrible. This is the opposite of the feeling described in the passage, where the captains were drawn to the icebergs, not driven away by them.
Conclusion on the Meaning of 'Intrigued'
Based on the analysis of the context and the options, the word ‘intrigued’ in the passage means being strongly interested or curious about something unusual. The option that best captures this meaning is ‘Fascinated’. Ship captains were fascinated by the unusual emerald icebergs.
Revision Table: Understanding Vocabulary in Context
| Word | Context in Passage | Meaning in Context | Best Fit Option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intrigued | Captains seeing emerald icebergs for many years | Deeply interested or curious about something unusual/mysterious | Fascinated |
Additional Information: Reading Comprehension Tips for Vocabulary
When you encounter an unfamiliar word in a reading passage, try these steps to understand its meaning:
- Read the sentence containing the word carefully.
- Look at the words and sentences around the word (the context).
- Think about the overall topic and what makes sense in that situation.
- If there are options, consider each option and see which one fits the context best.
- Sometimes, breaking down the word or thinking of similar words can help, but context is key in reading comprehension questions.
Understanding words based on how they are used in a passage is an important skill in reading comprehension.
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Important Questions from Reading Comprehension
What are ice shelves?
What are icebergs?
When the iceberg turns upside down, it appears ________.
The use of science in its simple form has helped man to ____________
Nature now needs to be protected from man because _____________
