Read the following passage and answer the questions given below. The two main…
2024
Read the following passage and answer the questions given below. The two main reasons of this chronic and unmanageable problem is rapidly ever increasing population and defective education system. Such a huge population, India finds it difficult to make any significant success in the areas of employment, alleviation of poverty and backwardness. Every sixth person in the world is an Indian. In other words, we are adding an Australia to our population every year or to Japan every ten years. There are about 31 new babies every minute or 45,000 new people daily. Thus, every year there are about 16 million more people to feed, cloth, educate and give employment. This prevailing trend of population growth is quite disturbing. Unemployment rate in India is showing an increasing trend since 2011 when it was 3.5 percent. The same rose to 3.6 percent in 2012 and climbed to 3.7 percent last year.
Q. Which of the following words is opposite in meaning to the word ‘extinct’ as used in the passage?
- A.
prevailing
- B.
lost
- C.
obsolete
- D.
defunct
Attempted by 20 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
To determine the correct answer, we must evaluate the word "extinct" against the provided options and the context of the passage.
Analysis
The Problem: The question asks for the opposite of "extinct" as used in the passage. However, the word "extinct" does not appear anywhere in the provided text.
Defining "Extinct": In general English, "extinct" means no longer in existence, having died out, or no longer active.
Evaluating Options as Opposites:
Prevailing: Means existing or happening in a particular way at a particular time; current or widespread. This is a strong candidate for an opposite of "extinct."
Lost: Means unable to be found or no longer possessed. This is not an opposite.
Obsolete: Means no longer produced or used; out of date. This is a synonym, not an opposite.
Defunct: Means no longer existing or functioning. This is a synonym, not an opposite.
Conclusion
Option A: Prevailing is the only logical antonym among the choices provided. The word "prevailing" does actually appear in the passage ("This prevailing trend of population growth..."), further suggesting that the question likely intended to ask for the opposite of "extinct" (or perhaps it was a flawed attempt to ask for the meaning of "prevailing").