Read the given passage and answer the four questions that follow: -

A Day That Changed My Perspective

It was a sweltering summer afternoon when I found myself stuck in the crowded lanes of Old Delhi. My purpose was simple: to buy a unique gift for a friend. As I meandered through the labyrinth of shops, the chaos of the market, the cacophony of honking rickshaws, vendors shouting their best prices, and the aroma of street food mingling with the scent of spices overwhelmed me. Frustrated and tired, I considered giving up.

Just then, I noticed a young boy, no older than ten, sitting beside a small wooden cart. He was meticulously polishing a pair of dusty shoes with a focus that seemed far beyond his years. His shirt was torn, and his face glistened with sweat, yet his determination was unwavering. Intrigued, I approached him. "How long have you been working here?" I asked.

"Since I was six," he replied without looking up. "I want to save enough money to go to school one day."

His words struck me like a thunderbolt. Here was a child who, despite his hardships, nurtured a dream and was working tirelessly to achieve it. It was a stark reminder of the privileges I often took for granted.

I left the market that day, not just with a gift, but with a renewed sense of gratitude and purpose. The boy's resilience reminded me that every challenge is an opportunity to grow, and every small step brings us closer to our dreams.

That day, Old Delhi wasn't just a market-it was a lesson in life.

Fill in the blanks in the sentences given in List-I with the expressions from the text given in List-II on the basis of your understanding of the passage: -

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

(A)-(IV), (B)-(III), (C)-(I), (D)-(II)

The correct answer is Option (3) → (A)-(IV), (B)-(III), (C)-(I), (D)-(II)

Explanation:

• (A) The news of my friend's tragic accident _____ and left me at a loss of words.
  → (IV) struck me like a thunderbolt.
  (Just like the boy’s words in the passage struck the narrator, this expression conveys sudden emotional impact.)

• (B) During our reunion after 11 years, it was natural that our conversation _____ range of diverse subjects.
  → (III) meandered through
  (Used in the passage to describe moving aimlessly through shops—here it’s metaphorically used for conversation.)

• (C) My visit to an orphanage in the neighborhood turned out to be a ______.
  → (I) lesson in life
  (Just like the narrator described the experience in Old Delhi.)

• (D) Mohan always ____ all the efforts his mother made to give him a decent upbringing.
  → (II) took for granted
  (The narrator realised he had taken his privileges for granted—this matches perfectly.)