Read the passage and answer the question.
Next to elephants, the two wild animals that tended to impress human beings most with their prowess were the tiger and the lion. Despite their different external appearances, they have great anatomical similarity. Historically, the tiger, in all its sub-species, has been confined to Asia, and (in the past) Europe and West Asia. Sharing so many common traits, the two species are drawn to similar natural habitats though the lion can tolerate drier country much better than the tiger, which, on the other hand, can go up to high altitudes and flourish in wet zones. Given this situation, it is rather surprising that the Indus Civilization, confined to the drier zone, has produced no depictions of the lion, while the tiger appears on as many as sixteen extant seals. But the lion is represented on a magnificent gold bowl from the Quetta hoard belonging to the subsequent Sibri culture (2100-1400 BC). Further, it is the lion (simha) that is mentioned in the Rigveda on nine occasions, whereas the tiger is not referred to even once. The Rigveda, we may remember, was composed mainly in the relatively dry zone of the upper Indus basin; and so we can almost infer that the lion had by now replaced the tiger through an eastward migration in the second millenium BC. This line of speculation is strengthened by the fact that the Atharvaveda, which gives evidence of a considerable eastward shift in its geographical horizons, has twelve mentions of the tiger (vyaghra) as against nine of the lion, with both animals being mentioned together at as many as five places.
Choose the synonym for the word 'Prowess'.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Ability
- Prowess means great skill or ability in an activity (and, in older use, bravery in battle). The tiger and the lion impressed people with their prowess, their power and skill as hunters.
Example: The batsman was praised for his prowess at the crease. - Ability means the skill or power to do something. Skill and ability are the core of prowess, so ability is the synonym.
Example: She has the ability to speak four languages.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: Cowardice — Incorrect. Cowardice means lack of courage. It is nearly the opposite of prowess.
Example: Running away from the fight was an act of cowardice.
Option 3: Strength — Incorrect. Strength is physical power. A strong animal may also have prowess, but prowess means skill and ability in action, not bodily power alone, so strength is not its synonym.
Example: It took all his strength to lift the box.
Option 4: Weakness — Incorrect. Weakness means lack of strength or skill, the opposite of prowess.
Example: Spelling is his only weakness in English.
| Synonyms of prowess: ability, skill, expertise, mastery Antonyms of prowess: weakness, inability, incompetence, ineptitude Also asked in CUET (UG): prowess – 15-05-2025 Slot 2 |