Notice the underlined words in these sentences and tick the option that best explains their meaning.

(a) “What a thunderclap these words were to me!”


The words were


(i) loud and clear.


(ii) startling and unexpected.


(iii) pleasant and welcome.


(b) “When a people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their language it is as if they had the key to their prison”


It is as if they have the key to the prison as long as they


(i) do not lose their language.


(ii) are attached to their language.


(iii) quickly learn the conqueror’s language.


(c) Don’t go so fast, you will get to your school in plenty of time.


You will get to your school


(i) very late.


(ii) too early.


(iii) early enough.


(d) I never saw him look so tall.


M. Hamel


(a) had grown physically taller


(b) seemed very confident


(c) stood on the chair

(a) ( ii) startling and unexpected

(Thunderclap refers to something that was unexpected and happened all of a sudden.)


(b) (ii) are attached to their language


(Language is the identity of one’s own culture and freedom)


(c) (i) very late.


(These words are used as a sarcasm or a taunt. Sarcasm is a figure of speech that means exactly opposite to what is said.)


(d) (b) seemed very confident


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