Read the given passage and answer the four questions that follow:-
He had no idea what it would be like, of course, and was pleased when Robinson Street proved to be leafy and relatively quiet, lined with large mansions. Number twenty-two was one of the older buildings, a massive four-story edifice, studded with graceful columned balconies: probably once the grandest building on the street, its Doric facade was now much bruised and discoloured, its plaster blacked with mildew. He went up to the fourth floor in a rattling birdcage of a lift that ascended through the center of a winding teak wood staircase. When the lift came to a stop, Murugan stepped gingerly on to the splintered planks of a wooden landing. A beam of sunlight, shining through a hole in a stained-glass window, revealed a small sign beside the tall door to his right. It said: 'The Robinson Guest House'. Beneath it was a nameplate for 'N. Aratounian'. Dragging his leather suitcase behind him, Murugan went to the door and rang the bell. Several minutes later, he heard footsteps on the other side. The door swung open, and he found himself looking at an ashen-faced, elderly woman in a frayed dressing grown and rubber slippers. 'Hi,' said Murugan, sticking out a hand. 'Any vacancies today?' Ignoring his hand, the woman looked him up and down, frowning through her gold rimmed bifocals.
The attitude of the elderly woman towards Murugan was _____.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → disdainful and irritating
Disdainful means showing that one thinks someone is not worth respect. When Murugan held out his hand, the woman ignored his hand, looked him up and down and kept frowning through her bifocals. Such cold, rude behaviour is disdainful and would irritate a visitor.
Example: She gave the shabby stranger a disdainful look and shut the door.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: pleasant and welcoming — Incorrect. Contradicted: she did not greet him or take his hand; she frowned, which is the opposite of welcoming.
Option 2: effusive and garrulous — Incorrect. Contradicted: effusive means showing warm feelings very freely, and garrulous means talking too much; the woman says nothing at all.
Example: The garrulous passenger talked all the way to Delhi.
Option 3: taciturn and placid — Incorrect. Only partly true: taciturn (saying little) fits her silence, but placid means calm and gentle; her frowning and looking him up and down show clear disapproval, not calm.
Example: The lake was placid in the early morning.