Reading Comprehension

(a) Discussing the relationship between the size of mammals and the nature of vegetation in their habitats

The passage is an explanatory piece: it uses examples of large mammals (such as elephants and other big herbivores) and the kind of vegetation available to them in order to bring out the link between an animal's body size and the type of vegetation in its habitat. India and Africa are mentioned only as illustrations of this general point, so the contrast between them is a supporting detail, not the author's main concern.

(c) Incorrect assumptions on the part of geologists

According to the author, the prejudice against the theory of continental drift arose because geologists wrongly assumed that the continents and ocean floors were fixed and permanent.

(b) To illustrate a possible source of food for large carnivores

The passage mentions migratory birds as part of the diet or food chain of large carnivores, showing that these predators do not rely only on antelope herds but also on other available prey such as birds.

(a) To counter a popular misconception

Darwin cites Burchell's first-hand observations as evidence against a commonly held belief, not to describe scenery, to prove a hypothesis, or to illustrate a familiar phenomenon.

(c) South American vegetation contrasted with that of South Africa

Mr. Burchell was a naturalist who had earlier travelled through South Africa, so on entering Brazil what struck him most was how the rich, luxuriant vegetation of South America stood in sharp contrast to the drier, sparser vegetation he had known in South Africa. The other options are either wrong or too sweeping — Brazil does not contain "all" large quadrupeds, nor an equal number of the largest herbivores.

(a) Irony in speech

Irony (sarcasm or mockery) wounds the listener's self-respect and creates resentment, so avoiding it is the surest way to win someone's friendship. Pomposity, verbosity and ambiguity are lesser faults — they merely bore or confuse, but irony offends.

(c) Simple words

An uneducated listener cannot follow difficult or technical vocabulary, so the message should be conveyed in simple, everyday words that he can easily understand.

(a) Flat

Style is the variation in language that a speaker or writer chooses according to the audience and situation. If the same style were used with everyone — a child, a professor, a friend, a stranger — the language would lose its variety and sound flat and monotonous.

(b) Unintentionally

A slip of the tongue is an accidental mistake in speech — something said without intending to say it.

(d) Reveal our intentions

Speech can be a curse because once words are spoken they can expose what we truly think or plan, leaving us vulnerable. This completes the sentence more precisely than the other options.

(b) Slavery to physical nature and from passions

Science gives us mastery over the physical world (control of disease, hunger, distance, natural forces) and also trains us to reason coolly, freeing us from blind passions, fear and superstition. Option (b) states this fully, while (a) and (c) mention only part of it.

(c) Make us conscious of the changing in our selves

The passage argues that the physical sciences give us knowledge of the physical world (option a), while the human sciences have a different purpose — they turn our attention inward and make us aware of the changes taking place within ourselves. Options (b) and (d) misstate this aim: awareness of "the changing world" is what the physical sciences already provide, and human sciences are not claimed to eliminate destruction.

(c) The future will be brighter than the present

If humanity controls its bestial or violent instincts, progress and peace become possible, making the future better than the present.

(a) Are closely linked with the life of modern man.

The author states that modern man’s fears and hopes are tied to the conditions and uncertainties of contemporary life.

(c) Overcome fear and danger

To "carve out" a bright future means to build it through one's own effort despite obstacles. The passage emphasizes that fear and danger are the main barriers, so man should overcome them rather than merely analyzing or avoiding dangers. A positive outlook may help, but the direct requirement is to overcome fear and danger.