Choose the most appropriate option to replace the underlined word without changing the meaning of the sentence:
The maintenance of peace in a household packed with young cousins in the summer vacations is an arduous task indeed.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → preservation
Maintenance means keeping something in its existing state or keeping it going. "The maintenance of peace" in a house full of young cousins means keeping the peace from being broken. Its synonym is preservation.
Example: The maintenance of law and order is the duty of the police.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) preservation (answer) | keeping something safe and unchanged ("the preservation of peace" says the same thing) | The preservation of old monuments needs public support. |
| (2) negligence | failure to take proper care (it is close to the opposite of keeping peace with effort) | The fire was caused by the negligence of the guard. |
| (3) determination | firmness of purpose ("the determination of peace" would mean fixing or deciding it, not keeping it) | Her determination helped her finish the race. |
| (4) assertion | a firm statement or claim (it has nothing to do with keeping peace) | He repeated his assertion that he was innocent. |