2. The pool had been discovered by me a few months earlier. I remember that it was going to rain... I could see the rain moving across the foothills, and I could smell it on the breeze. But instead of turning homewards, I pushed my way through the leaves and brambles that grew across the forest path. I had heard the murmur of water and I wanted to see and touch it. Sliding down the rockface into a small ravine, I found a stream running over a bed of shingle. Water trickled down from the hillside, from amongst ferns and grasses and wild primroses. The rocks beside the stream were smooth, and some of them were grey and some yellow. A small waterfall came down the rocks and formed a deep pool of apple-green water.
3. When I saw the pool, I ran back to town to tell the others. Anil and Somi were my closest friends. Anil lived in a crowded lane of the Dilaram Bazaar. He was wild and a little dangerous, subject to moods and impulses. Somi was sensitive and gentle in his ways, but common with Anil he had a sense of fun and an instinct for adventure. The pool was my own discovery, and I was proud of it. "We'll call it Rusty pool", said Somi.
Understanding Synonyms for 'Instinct'
The question asks us to find the word that is the nearest synonym for 'instinct' based on its usage in the provided text. To do this, we need to understand the meaning of 'instinct' as it appears in the passage and compare it with the given options.
Analyzing 'Instinct' in Context
The passage describes Somi, one of the narrator's friends: "Somi was sensitive and gentle in his ways, but common with Anil he had a sense of fun and an instinct for adventure."
In this sentence, 'instinct for adventure' suggests an innate, natural tendency or urge that Somi possessed, which made him inclined towards adventure, much like his friend Anil. It implies a natural drive rather than a learned behavior or a conscious decision.
Evaluating the Options
Let's look at each option to see which one best matches this meaning:
- hatred: This means intense dislike or ill will. It is the opposite of a natural positive inclination towards something like adventure.
- affinity: This means a natural liking for or attraction to a person, thing, idea, etc. While it suggests a natural liking, 'instinct' in this context is more about a driving urge or tendency than just a liking.
- premonition: This refers to a foreboding or a feeling that something bad is about to happen. It has no connection to an urge for adventure.
- inclination: This means a person's natural tendency or urge to act or behave in a particular way; a disposition. This aligns very closely with the idea of having a natural drive or tendency towards adventure.
Conclusion on Synonym
Comparing the options, 'inclination' is the word that most accurately captures the meaning of 'instinct' as used in the passage, referring to a natural tendency or urge for adventure.
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'?
