UPSC Prelims 2014·CSAT·Reading Comprehension·Passage Comprehension

Passage In front of us was walking a bare- headed old man in tattered clothes. He was driving his beasts. They were all laden with heavy loads of clay from the hills and looked tired. The man carried a long whip which perhaps he himself had made. As he walked down the road he stopped now and then to eat the wild berries that grew on bushes along the uneven road. When he threw away the seeds, the bold birds would fly to peck at them. Sometimes a stray dog watched the procession philosophically and then began to bark. When this happened, my two little sons would stand still holding my hands firmly. A dog can sometimes be dangerous indeed. The expression "a stray dog watched the procession philosophically" means that

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  1. Athe dog was restless and ferocious
  2. Bthe dog stood aloof, looking at the procession with seriousnessCorrect
  3. Cthe dog looked at the procession with big, wondering eyes
  4. Dthe dog stood there with his eyes closed.

Explanation

The expression "watched the procession philosophically" implies a detached, thoughtful, and observant stance. Option A is incorrect because "restless and ferocious" contradicts the calm, contemplative nature implied by "philosophically." Option C is incorrect because "big, wondering eyes" suggests curiosity or surprise, which is different from the deeper, more serious contemplation implied by "philosophically." Option D is incorrect because "eyes closed" means the dog was not watching, directly contradicting "watched the procession." Option B, "the dog stood aloof, looking at the procession with seriousness," accurately captures the meaning. "Aloof" suggests detachment and non-involvement, while "seriousness" implies a thoughtful, contemplative observation, aligning perfectly with the idea of watching "philosophically."
Reading Comprehension: Passage In front of us was walking a bare- headed old man in tattered clothes. He was driving his beasts. They were all

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