Read the passage given below and answer the question that follows.
One day recently as I entered the park, I lifted a piece of bark from a fallen log (permission from a ranger) and saw three tiny symphylans, another group of reclusive insect like creatures on which the collembolan-hunting ants sometimes feed. These creatures, belonging to a special group of symphylans called japygid have a pair of pincers on their rear ends. Although there are many species of these worldwide, very little is known about any part of their biology. What is their preferred food, what is their life cycle, why are these pincers in such an unusual position? I have no idea. Nor can I, or any other biologist, guess what would happen if all were to disappear. What I thought at the moment was that if I had another lifetime to live, I could easily devote it to symphylans.
Consider in the same light the different kinds of flies alone you would capture in a field on a summer day by simply sweeping a butterfly net back and forth through the vegetation. (Try it; you'll be amazed.) Then ponder further, if you will, that the species are variously specialized to feed on particular kinds of fruit, or pollen, or fungi, or scat, or dead bodies, or, if you let them, your own fresh blood. Some flies are parasites on other insects_ and not just any insects, but one to several species on which they are specialized out of thousands available. When as a teenager I had this epiphany, and I almost became a dipterist, an entomologist who studies flies. I was mesmerized by delicate little flies of the family Dolichopodidae, glistening all over in metalic blues and greens as they displayed themselves on plant leaves in the summer sunshine.
What does the author mean by saying:
'If I had another lifetime to live, I could easily devote it to symphylans' :
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Spend my time studying about symphylans
The author admits that "very little is known about any part of their biology": their food, their life cycle and the odd position of their pincers are all unknown. Speaking as a biologist, he means that there is so much to find out about them that he could happily spend a whole second lifetime studying them.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: Spend my time looking after symphylans — Incorrect. Misread: looking after means taking care of; the author's interest is in learning about them, not in caring for them.
Option 3: Spend my time worshipping symphylans — Incorrect. Wrong focus: to worship is to treat something as holy; the author's interest is scientific.
Option 4: Spend my time revering symphylans — Incorrect. Overstated: to revere is to feel deep respect and admiration for someone or something. The author is curious about the creatures, not in awe of them.
Example: The villagers revere the old teacher who taught three generations of their children.