Comprehension: Read the passage and answer the question. Today, a robust…
2025
Comprehension:
Read the passage and answer the question.
Today, a robust system of physical education plays an increasingly important role in the
modern educational system. It emphasises the all-round development of an individual, carefully
considering the various aspects of personality such as physical fitness, social adjustment,
mental activeness, emotionally balanced life, cultural values and moral uprightness. The
modern physical education system includes a diverse variety of activities within its programs;
thus, a comprehensive physical education program necessitates meticulous planning for the
effective organisation of its activities.
Planning plays a vital role in every field of life, ensuring optimal resource allocation and goal
attainment. A well-structured physical education program sparks enthusiasm, boosts
participation and enhances engagement. Strategic planning maximises the benefits of physical
education and sports, fostering skill development and learning outcomes.
The success of a physical education program significantly depends upon efficient staffing,
good direction, proper control, effective supervision, good coordination among stakeholders,
clear chances of improvement, proactive strategies for overcoming shortcomings, etc. Planning
in sports must strategically consider a suitable fixture for the tournament, ensuring fair play and
maximum participation. There are various established types of fixtures in a tournament, such
as Knock-out, League, Combination of Knock-out with League or vice versa, Ladder and
Pyramid tournaments, each serving different purposes and event scales.
Strategic planning in physical education not only enhances program effectiveness but also
fosters the holistic growth of students, preparing them for well-rounded personal and social
development.
Which of the following words best describes the meaning of ‘robust’ as given in the
passage?
- A.
Strong
- B.
Fragile
- C.
Dull
- D.
Weak
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
In a vocabulary-in-context question, a word's meaning is fixed by how it functions in the surrounding sentence and passage, not by picking any dictionary sense in isolation. "Robust" core sense is strong, sturdy, and vigorous — it describes something built well enough to perform its function effectively.
The passage calls physical education "a robust system" and then describes that system as playing an increasingly important role, emphasising all-round development, being comprehensive, well-structured, and sparking enthusiasm, participation, and engagement. Every one of these qualities describes a system that is powerful, effective, and well-built — exactly the sense of "strong". Substituting "strong" for "robust" keeps the sentence coherent: "a strong system of physical education plays an increasingly important role...".
Swapping each remaining option into the same sentence breaks the fit with the rest of the passage: "a fragile/dull/weak system of physical education plays an increasingly important role" contradicts a system that is described as comprehensive, well-structured, and enthusiasm-sparking.
Why the other options do not fit:
Fragile means delicate or easily broken — the opposite of a system built for wide-scale, effective activity.
Dull means lacking sharpness or liveliness — the passage instead shows an active, engaging system.
Weak means lacking strength or effectiveness — contradicted by the passage's description of a comprehensive, high-impact system.
Therefore, "Strong" best captures the meaning of "robust" as used in the passage.