Read the passage and answer the four questions that follow:-
Part of our programme included spending an afternoon on a machaan that overlooked a waterhole in the forest. Our riding elephants dropped us off, and we were given strict instructions to remain put until later, the elephants would come to pick us up.
So we sat, hoping that a tiger or leopard would come down for a drink. No such luck. After a while, a juvenile rhesus macaque poked its head out and looked around warily. Then, taking infinitesimal care, it emerged into the clearing cautiously. If it had been born and brought up in Delhi, it would have probably charged out, clambered up our machaan and relieved us of our drinking water and snacks. But not this fellow. I thought these forest monkeys were such wimps!
It was getting darker by the minute- and there was no sign of our elephant pickups. So we decided to trek back to Dhikala. We set off in single file along the forest path. When I was suddenly confronted by all the pioneering leaders rushing pell-mell back urgently whispering, 'mad elephant, mad elephant!' I saw the bulk of an elephant- I can't vouch if its head was aggressively cocked and trunk rolled up, appraising us prior to charging. Incontinently, we fled, to our machaan and clambered up.
One spank from its trunk would have sent any of us flying clear across the waterhole! We could only sit quietly. I realised that the juvenile rhesus had a very good reason for being so cautious. We had not.
Find a word from the passage which means the same as- 'Unrestrained'
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Incontinently
- Unrestrained means not held back or controlled.
Example: The fans broke into unrestrained cheering at the final whistle. - Incontinently means without self-control or restraint, and also at once, without stopping to think. In the passage, "Incontinently, we fled" means the group ran off at once in an uncontrolled rush when they saw the elephant, so it is the word that means unrestrained.
Example: On hearing the explosion, the crowd ran incontinently towards the exits.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: Warily — Incorrect. Warily means cautiously, watching out for danger, as the monkey "looked around warily". It is close to the opposite of unrestrained.
Example: The deer warily approached the river to drink.
Option 3: Appraising — Incorrect. To appraise is to look at someone or something carefully to judge it. The elephant was "appraising us prior to charging". It has nothing to do with lack of control.
Example: The jeweller gave the ring an appraising look.
Option 4: Juvenile — Incorrect. Juvenile means young, not yet adult. It describes the rhesus macaque's age.
Example: A juvenile eagle was seen near the nest.
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