Question:
Passage:
My grandmother always held a certain stoic posture toward life’s erratic tides. Living in a small, weathered cottage, she looked back at a history filled with transient joys and lasting trials. Her penchant for storytelling transformed rainy afternoons into grand journeys. Though neighbors viewed her solitary lifestyle as ascetic, if not dangerously precarious given her failing health, she remained entirely loquacious whenever a guest crossed her threshold, speaking with an eloquent cadence that captivated anyone who listened. She often reminded us that lingering on past predicaments was a futile exercise, urging us instead to make peace with our conflicts and move forward without looking back.
Which word used in the passage is closest in meaning to an “unstable, uncertain, or uncomfortable situation”?
Passage:
My grandmother always held a certain stoic posture toward life’s erratic tides. Living in a small, weathered cottage, she looked back at a history filled with transient joys and lasting trials. Her penchant for storytelling transformed rainy afternoons into grand journeys. Though neighbors viewed her solitary lifestyle as ascetic, if not dangerously precarious given her failing health, she remained entirely loquacious whenever a guest crossed her threshold, speaking with an eloquent cadence that captivated anyone who listened. She often reminded us that lingering on past predicaments was a futile exercise, urging us instead to make peace with our conflicts and move forward without looking back.
Which word used in the passage is closest in meaning to an “unstable, uncertain, or uncomfortable situation”?
Show Hint
Remember:
\[
\text{Precarious} \rightarrow \text{Uncertain or risky}
\]
Example:
\[
\text{“A precarious financial condition.”}
\]
Updated On: Jun 3, 2026
- Stoic
- Transient
- Precarious
- Ascetic
Show Solution
Verified By Collegedunia
The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Locate the relevant word in the passage. The passage says: \[ \text{“if not dangerously precarious given her failing health”} \]
Step 2: Understand the meaning of “precarious.” “Precarious” means:
- Uncertain
- Unsafe
- Unstable
- Risky or uncomfortable
Step 3: Eliminate other options.
- Stoic \(\rightarrow\) Emotionally strong and calm
- Transient \(\rightarrow\) Temporary or short-lived
- Ascetic \(\rightarrow\) Simple and self-disciplined lifestyle
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