Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:…
2025
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
India has the highest number of malnourished children in the world with Madhya Pradesh being the worst-affected state. About 47% children under five in the country, totalling 57 million, are underweight. Even sub-Saharan Africa is better off, with 33% of children malnourished. These shocking figures have been mentioned in UNICEF's 'Progress for Children - A Report Card on Nutrition', released globally. The other badly affected states in India are Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa, Bihar and Maharashtra. Over 50% children in some of these states are malnourished. However, some Indian states have better report cards. Malnourishment among children is significantly low in Goa, Kerala, Mizoram and Tamil Nadu. According to Dr Werner Schultink, UNICEF India's chief of Child Development and Nutrition Programme, the causes for this malnutrition are many: bad quality feeding, high population density, high rate of infectious diseases, high rate of illiteracy among women, gender inequality, low rate of immunisation and high rate of birth of underweight babies.
Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the given word.
Release
- A.
Contempt
- B.
Restrain
- C.
Dedicate
- D.
Elevate
Attempted by 12 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
An antonym is a word that carries the exact opposite meaning of a given word. To find it, first pin down the given word's core meaning precisely, then look for the option whose meaning is a direct reversal of that meaning — not simply a word with a different or negative connotation.
"Release" means to set free, let go, or discharge something or someone from restraint, confinement, or control. The direct opposite of "freeing from restraint" is "holding under restraint" — that is, to hold back, confine, or control. "Restrain" carries exactly this reversed meaning, so it is the antonym of "Release".
Checking each remaining option against this meaning-reversal:
"Contempt" is the antonym of words like "respect" or "admiration" — it evaluates a feeling of scorn or disrespect, a quality unrelated to what "release" describes, so it does not reverse "release"'s meaning.
"Dedicate" is the antonym of words like "abandon" or "neglect" — it evaluates commitment to a cause or purpose, a quality unrelated to what "release" describes, so it does not reverse "release"'s meaning.
"Elevate" is the antonym of words like "lower" or "demote" — it evaluates a change in position or rank, a quality unrelated to what "release" describes, so it does not reverse "release"'s meaning.
Therefore, "Restrain" — to hold back or keep under control — is the most appropriate antonym of "Release".