Read the poem and answer the question that follow:
Beside the ungathered rice he lay,
His sickle in his hand;
His breast was bare, his matted hair
Was buried in the sand.
Again, in the mist and shadow of sleep.
He saw his Native Land.
Wide through the landscape of his dreams
The lordly Niger flowed;
Beneath the palm-trees on the plain
Once more a king he strode:
And heard the tinkling caravans
Descend the mountain-road.
He saw once more his dark-eyed queen
Among her children stand;
They clasped his neck, they kissed his cheeks,
They held him by the hand!-
A tear burst from the sleeper's lids
And fell into the sand.
And then at furious speed he rode
Along the Niger's bank;
His bridle-reins were golden chains.
And, with a martial clank,
At each leap he could feel his scabbard of steel
Smiting his stallion's flank.
Before him, like a blood-red flag.
The bright flamingoes flew
From morn till night he followed their flight,
O'er plains where the tamarind grew,
Till he saw the roofs of Caffre huts,
And the oceans rose to view.
The phrase "matted hair" describes:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → texture of the hair
Matted hair is hair that is tangled and stuck together in a thick mass, usually from dirt, sweat or neglect. The word tells us how the hair looks and feels, that is, its texture. In the poem it shows the hard, uncared-for life of the sleeping slave.
Example: The stray dog's coat was matted with mud.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: movement of the hair — Incorrect. Wrong meaning: the hair lies buried in the sand; nothing in "matted" shows movement.
Option 3: scent of the hair — Incorrect. Wrong meaning: "matted" says nothing about smell.
Option 4: colour of the hair — Incorrect. Wrong meaning: "matted" describes the condition of the hair, not whether it is black, brown or grey.