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Question

Read the passage and answer the following questions. Some words are given in bold. Pay Attention.

Once, a cat and a mouse were very good friends and happily lived together in the same house. As winter was approaching, they decided to stock some food items. So they went to the market and bought a big pot of cheese.

Fearing that other cats and mice might steal their cheese, they hid it carefully behind the altar in the church.

The cat was very greedy. After a few days, he had a great yearning to taste the cheese. He went to the mouse and told him that he was invited to baptize his cousin’s child in the church. The mouse believed him and the cat set out for his first steal.

He ate a large chunk of the cheese and returned home happily. When the mouse asked him what the child was named the cat replied, “Top-off.” The mouse was surprised at the name.

After a few days, the greedy cat wanted to have some cheese again and told the mouse that he had to baptize another child and rushed to the church. He finished half the cheese and told the mouse that this time the child was named “Half-gone.”

After a few days, the cat made the same excuse and went again and finished the remaining cheese. This time he told the mouse that the child was named “All-gone.” The mouse was puzzled by the cat’s behaviour but did not say anything.

When winter came, the mouse went to the church to get the cheese but found that it had vanished. At last, he understood the trick played by the greedy cat.

What is the meaning of the word 'greedy'?

This question was previously asked in
ESIC UDC Mains MBT (30 Apr 2022)
The correct answer is

all of the above

Meaning of 'Greedy' from Passage

The question asks us to determine the meaning of the word 'greedy' by referring to the provided story about a cat and a mouse. The passage describes the cat's actions and feelings concerning cheese.

Greedy Behavior in Cat & Mouse Story

In the story, the cat is explicitly described as 'greedy'. This is demonstrated through his actions:

  • He had a strong desire, a "great yearning," for the cheese.
  • He lied to the mouse, inventing excuses about baptizing children, to get the cheese.
  • He repeatedly went to the church to eat the cheese, consuming a "large chunk," then "half the cheese," and finally the "remaining cheese."
  • His actions were selfish, as he took all the cheese meant to be shared.

These actions show a strong, selfish desire for more food than he needed or deserved.

Analyzing 'Greedy' Word Options

We need to understand how the given options relate to the meaning of 'greedy' as shown in the passage:

  • Gluttonous: This term means having or showing excessive greed, especially for food. The cat's actions of eating large amounts of cheese fit this description perfectly.
  • Self-indulgent: This refers to having or showing excessive indulgence of one's own desires. The cat's selfish behavior, prioritizing his own craving for cheese over fairness to the mouse, aligns with being self-indulgent.
  • Gourmand: A gourmand is someone who enjoys eating and is often considered a glutton. The cat's apparent enjoyment and consumption of the cheese suggest he acts like a gourmand.
  • Impatient: This means having or showing a tendency to be quickly irritated or provoked, or eager for something to happen. The cat's repeated visits and strong yearning for the cheese could imply impatience to satisfy his desire. While not the primary definition of 'greedy', eagerness fueled by intense desire is a related trait.

'Greedy' Definition Explained

The word 'greedy' fundamentally describes someone with an intense and selfish desire for something, like wealth or food. The cat's behavior in the story—his strong yearning, repeated stealing, and complete consumption of the cheese—clearly illustrates this characteristic.

Considering the options:

  • 'Gluttonous' captures the excessive eating aspect.
  • 'Self-indulgent' highlights the selfish nature of his actions.
  • 'Gourmand' relates to the enjoyment and excess in eating.
  • 'Impatient' can describe the eagerness driven by his strong desire.

Since the cat's actions exhibit traits related to all these terms, and 'greedy' encompasses these aspects of excessive desire and selfish action, 'all of the above' is the most fitting answer.

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