Read the given passage carefully and select the best answer to each question out of the four given alternatives. He was a vendor of sweets. He had his own peculiar method of advertising and doing business. He never depended upon others for help and worked hard all alone. I speak of Murali--- the man who sold sweets. His customers were children, the future citizens of the world. At the stroke of nine in the morning, Murali would stand in front of the school with his tray of sweets. Till about eleven, the sale would be brisk. After that, he moved off to other places. Even when the sweets became sticky in the heat, his business never slackened. There was a period of depression in his business when the holidays came.
When did the period of depression come in his business?
When the holidays came
Understanding the Passage and the Sweet Vendor's Business
The question asks about the timing of a period of depression in the sweet vendor, Murali's, business. To answer this, we need to carefully read the provided passage and locate the information related to his business activity and any periods of downturn.
Analyzing the Passage for Business Downturn
The passage describes Murali, a sweet vendor, and his business routine. It mentions his method of advertising, his hard work, and his target customers (children). It details his schedule, being in front of the school in the morning and moving to other places later. The passage also notes that his business didn't slacken even when sweets became sticky.
The crucial sentence that directly addresses a period of depression in his business is the very last one:
"There was a period of depression in his business when the holidays came."
This sentence explicitly links the "period of depression" to the time "when the holidays came".
Evaluating the Options Based on the Passage
Let's examine the given options in light of the information from the passage:
- Option 1: After the holidays
- Option 2: When the holidays came
- Option 3: He was found cheating
- Option 4: None of these
Comparing these options with the sentence from the passage, "There was a period of depression in his business when the holidays came":
- Option 1 suggests the depression happened *after* the holidays, which contradicts the passage saying it happened *when* they came.
- Option 2 states the depression happened *when the holidays came*, which directly matches the statement in the passage.
- Option 3 introduces a reason (cheating) that is not mentioned anywhere in the passage. The passage focuses on his business and its fluctuations, not his ethics.
- Option 4 would be correct only if none of the other options matched the passage. Since Option 2 directly matches the passage, this option is incorrect.
Therefore, the passage clearly indicates that the period of depression in Murali's business occurred when the holidays arrived.
Conclusion: Identifying the Period of Depression
Based on the direct statement in the passage, the period of depression in the sweet vendor's business occurred when the holidays came.
The final answer is When the holidays came.
Revision Table: Key Points on Sweet Vendor's Business
| Aspect of Business | Detail from Passage |
|---|---|
| Vocation | Vendor of sweets (Murali) |
| Business Method | Peculiar advertising, worked alone, didn't depend on others, worked hard |
| Customers | Children |
| Peak Time/Location | 9 to 11 am in front of the school |
| Impact of Heat | Business did not slacken even when sweets became sticky |
| Period of Depression | When the holidays came |
Additional Information: Reading Comprehension Strategies
Reading comprehension questions require careful analysis of the provided text. Here are some useful strategies:
- Read the passage thoroughly: Get a general understanding of the main topic and key points.
- Read the questions first (optional but helpful): Knowing what information to look for can guide your reading.
- Locate the relevant information: Scan the passage for keywords from the question or options.
- Read the relevant sentences carefully: Understand the exact meaning in context.
- Evaluate each option: Compare each option against the information found in the passage. Eliminate options that contradict the text or introduce outside information.
- Choose the best answer: Select the option that is most accurately supported by the passage.
In this specific question, finding the exact phrase "period of depression" and the following words helped pinpoint the answer directly.
Similar Questions
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Important Questions from Reading Comprehension
- Which framework globally guides national policies on Community Centered Disaster Risk Reduction?
- In the context of disaster governance, which principle emphasizes empowering local to take the lead in risk mitigation strategies?
- What distinguishes participatory disaster management from top-down approaches?
- Which of the following is a major barrier to effective local disaster risk reduction implementation in developing countries?
- How can technology most effectively support community-based disaster resilience?
