Question

1. Read the following passage and answer the questions set below it:

The Most Beautiful Flower

The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read, beneath the long, straggly branches of an

old willow tree. Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown, for the world was intent on

dragging me down. And if that weren’t enough to ruin my day, a young boy out of breath

approached me, all tired from play.

He stood right before me with his head tilted down. He said with great excitement, “Look what

I found!” In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight, with its petals all worn – perhaps

not enough rain, or too little light might have caused it. Wanting him to take his dead flower

and go off to play, I faked a small smile and then shifted away.

But instead of retreating he sat by my side. And placed the flower to his nose and declared with

overacted surprise, “It sure smells pretty and it’s beautiful, too. That’s why I picked it; here,

it’s for you.”

The weed before me was dying or dead. Not vibrant of colours orange, yellow and red. But I

knew I must take it, or he might never leave. So I reached for the flower, and replied, “Just

what I need.” But instead of placing the flower in my hand, He held it midair without reason

or plan. It was then that I noticed for the very first time that weed-toting boy could not see: he

was blind.

I heard my voice quiver, tears shone like the sun as I thanked him for picking the very best one.

“You are welcome,” he smiled, and then ran off to play, unaware of the impact he’d had on my

day. And I smiled as I watched that young boy, with another weed in his hand about to change

the life on an unsuspecting old man.



A) With reference to the passage, do as directed.


i. Find a word in paragraph 1 similar in meaning to “vacant”.


ii. Find a phrase in paragraph 2 similar in meaning to “move”.


iii. Find a word in paragraph 2 opposite in meaning to “calm”.


iv. Find a word in the passage opposite in meaning to “advance”.​

Answer 1

Answer:

i. deserted

ii. shifted away

iii. excitement

iv. before