Read the given passage and answer the four questions that follow:-
Swaminathan stretched lazily under the banyan tree, watching a slow trickle of afternoon sunlight filter through its dense leaves. The marketplace across the street hummed with life — vendors shouting over one another, bullock carts trundling along the dusty roads, and the occasional cycle bell ringing in protest. The smell of roasting peanuts drifted through the air, mingling with the earthy scent of Malgudi after a light drizzle.
But Swami wasn't thinking about the town's lively bustle. He had arithmetic homework waiting at home, and his father's stern voice still echoed in his mind: "No excuses, Swami. I expect it done before dinner." He sighed, kicking a small stone into the road. He could hear his friends laughing somewhere behind him, playing cricket in the narrow lanes. The thought of numbers and sums weighed heavy on his mind, making the world outside seem even more tempting.
The street dog, Tiger, sauntered toward him, tail wagging. "You have no homework to do, do you?" Swami muttered, scratching its ears. Tiger responded with an enthusiastic bark, making a passing shopkeeper chuckle.
"Swaminathan! Come home at once," his father's voice boomed from the verandah. Swami winced. He stood up reluctantly, giving Tiger one last pat before trudging home, where ink-stained notebooks and difficult numbers awaited him.
What does the word 'trudging' indicate in the given passage?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → He headed home with heavy steps, unhappily.
To trudge means to walk slowly with heavy steps, because one is tired or unwilling. Swami stood up reluctantly and went home to "ink-stained notebooks and difficult numbers", so his heavy walk shows his unhappiness.
Example: The tired soldiers trudged back to the camp through the mud.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: He raced back home. — Incorrect. Opposite meaning: trudging is slow and heavy, while racing is fast. Swami had no wish to hurry towards his homework.
Option 3: He hopped and skipped back home. — Incorrect. Contradicted: hopping and skipping show a light, happy mood, but Swami winced and stood up reluctantly.
Option 4: He lazily walked back home. — Incorrect. Too narrow: "lazily" shows only a lack of energy. Trudging also carries the heaviness and unwillingness of someone going towards something unpleasant, which Option 2 includes.