Comprehension:
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:-
One day several months ago, my elder brother, who was ninety-five years old then, called me, on phone from Rameswaram. He started the conversation by narrating an incident about my friend’s visit to him. During the discussion, my friend asked my brother, “How old is your house?” He said, “The house was built by our father, more than a century ago. My younger brother, and my earning grandchildren have now come out with a proposal to build a new house in the same place after demolishing this one.” My friend said he would not want to see such a historical place demolished. He was willing to make an arrangement through a trust to transform the house into a museum and library, while alternative accommodation was worked out for my brother and his family. My brother, was calling me, to say he was against the friend’s proposal. "I would like to live in the house where I have grown and lived for ninety-five years. I would like to build a new house in the same place through the earnings of my kith and kin. I would not like to have any other arrangements. You thank your friend in a nice way". It struck me,—here is a man who would like to lead his life on his own terms and does not want any help, well-meant though it might be. It was a great learning for me, and I saw in my brother, a reflection of my father, who lived to 103 years and inculcated such a tradition in us.
Choose the best option to complete the sentence:
From the offer made by the narrator's friend, it's evident that the friend is-
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → an Antiquarian
An antiquarian is a person who studies, collects or values old and historic things. The friend did not want "such a historical place" demolished and offered to turn the century-old house into a museum and library, which shows a love of old, historic things.
Example: The antiquarian spent years collecting old coins and manuscripts.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: greedy — Incorrect. Contradicted: greedy means wanting more than one needs, especially money; the friend offered to arrange another home for the family through a trust and sought no gain for himself.
Option 2: an opportunist — Incorrect. Contradicted: an opportunist is a person who uses every chance for his own advantage, without caring about others; nothing in the offer serves the friend's own interest.
Example: The opportunist switched parties just before the election.
Option 3: a Romanist — Incorrect. Not mentioned: a Romanist is a scholar of Roman law or of the Romance languages, or a follower of the Roman Catholic Church; the passage says nothing of this kind about the friend.
Example: The Romanist lectured on the laws of ancient Rome.