Question

But I did not want to shoot the elephant. I watched him beating his bunch of grass against his knees, with the preoccupied grandmotherly air that elephants have. It seemed to me that it would be murder to shoot him. I had never shot an elephant and never wanted to. (Somehow it always seems worse to kill large animal.) Besides, there was the beast's owner to be considered. But I had got to act quickly. I turned to some experienced-looking Burmans who had been there when we arrived, and asked them how the elephants had been behaving. They all said the same thing; he took no notice of you if you left him alone, but he might charge if you went too close to him.The phrase 'Preoccupied grandmotherly air' signifies
being totally unconcerned
pretending to be very busy
a very superior attitude
calm, dignified and affectionate disposition

Answer 1

Option D is correct

calm, dignified and affectionate disposition

Explanation:

• Preoccupied grandmotherly air signifies the nature of the elephants  
• They are a harmless, dignified and affectionate creature that doesn't hurt anyone
• Killing an elephant would certainly be a murder  
• When a human goes near them, they treat him gently and with love
• However, human hunt elephants for the sake of their benefits