Read the given passage and answer the four questions that follow:-
In July 1973, Amitav Ghosh joined St. Stephen's College in Delhi. Like every other freshman, he was nervous about the first few weeks, when one was 'ragged' - shorthand for being verbally harassed, harangued, interrogated, and intimidated - by seniors. Twenty-five years later, by now an established novelist, Amitav Ghosh wrote: The year I joined College, the word among us freshers was that the most terrifying ragger in College lived in Rudra Court, in L5. Terrifying because he wasn't the usual kind of bullying, bellowing senior. No, he was to them as the panther is to the elephant. He was bearded, and soft-spoken, so stealthy that you never sensed his presence until he had you square in his sights. Young Amitav was able to escape the clutches of this fearful senior for a fortnight. But then he 'was "nabbed while attempting to abscond" as the Indian Express used to say'. The 'legend of L5' caught hold of the fresher, and quizzed him about his interests. 'I like classical music,' answered Ghosh, nervously. 'You do?' said the legend and walked him into his room in Rudra North. The legend put a record on the turntable and began to play it. He asked Ghosh to identify the composer and composition. Beethoven's Emperor Concerto answered the fresher, correctly. Three or four more records were played and all except one accurately identified. At this, 'The legend stuck out his hand. "I'm Rukun Advani," he said. "Let's go down to Maurice Nagar and have a cup of tea."
What set the 'legend of L5' apart from typical raggers in St. Stephen's College?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → He relied on quiet precision rather than overt aggression to unsettle freshers.
The legend was terrifying because he "wasn't the usual kind of bullying, bellowing senior"; he was soft-spoken and stealthy, like a panther compared with an elephant. Overt means open and plainly seen; the usual raggers were openly aggressive, while he worked quietly and precisely.
Example: There was no overt sign of anger on his face.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: He subjected freshers to rigorous academic quizzes instead of physical harassment. — Incorrect. Misread: he quizzed Ghosh about his interests (music), not academic subjects, and the passage contrasts him with loud bullies, not with physical harassment.
Option 2: He was known for psychological manipulation rather than open intimidation. — Incorrect. Not mentioned: nothing in the passage shows him manipulating anyone; he tested Ghosh honestly and then befriended him.
Option 4: He maintained an air of mystery, rarely interacting directly with freshers. — Incorrect. Contradicted: he caught hold of Ghosh, quizzed him and took him to his room, which is direct interaction.