Lewis's early childhood was relatively happy and carefree. In those days Northern Ireland was not yet by bitter civil strife, and the Lewises were comfortably off. The family home, called Little Lea, was a large, gabled house with dark, narrow passages and an overgrown garden, which Warnie and Jack played in and together. There was also a library that was crammed with books— two of Jack's favourites were Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson and The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
This somewhat idyllic boyhood came to an end for Lewis when his mother became ill and died of cancer in 1908. Barely a month after her death the two boys were sent away from home to go to boarding school in England.Lewis hated the school, with its strict rules and hard, headmaster, and he missed Belfast terribly. Fortunately for him, the school closed in 1910, and he was able to return to Ireland.
After a year, however, he was sent back to England to study. This time, the proved to be mostly positive. As a teenager, Lewis learned to love poetry, especially the works of Virgil and Homer. He also developed an interest in modern languages, mastering French, German, and Italian.
Result:
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Correct answer: earlier
Explanation: 'Earlier' fits grammatically as it indicates a time before a specified point, which is appropriate here since it refers to the birth of Warren Lewis in relation to Jack's birth. The use of 'earlier' aligns with the past tense context of the sentence.
Meaning: 'Earlier' means at a time before now or before a specified time, indicating that Warren was born before Jack.
Wrong options:
- subsequently: 'Subsequently' means after a particular event, which contradicts the context of Warren being born before Jack.
- previously: 'Previously' also indicates something that happened before, but it is less commonly used in this specific context compared to 'earlier.'
- ago: 'Ago' is used to indicate a time in the past relative to the present, but it does not fit grammatically in this sentence structure.
Correct answer: plagued
Explanation: 'Plagued' is the correct choice as it conveys the idea of being troubled or afflicted by something, which fits the context of civil strife affecting Northern Ireland. The past tense aligns with the historical context of the sentence.
Meaning: 'Plagued' means to be constantly troubled or distressed by something, indicating that civil strife was a significant issue during that time.
Wrong options:
- doubted: 'Doubted' means to have uncertainty about something, which does not fit the context of civil strife.
- pestered: 'Pestered' implies being bothered persistently, which is not the correct connotation for the serious issue of civil strife.
- bothered: 'Bothered' suggests a minor annoyance rather than the severe impact of civil strife, making it an inappropriate choice.
Correct answer: explored
Explanation: 'Explored' is the correct answer as it indicates a sense of adventure and discovery, which fits well with the context of children playing in a garden. The verb aligns with the playful tone of the sentence.
Meaning: 'Explored' means to travel through an area to learn about it, suggesting that Jack and Warnie were actively engaging with their surroundings.
Wrong options:
- watched: 'Watched' implies passive observation, which does not convey the active engagement suggested by the context of playing.
- inspired: 'Inspired' means to fill someone with the urge to do something, which does not fit the context of physical activity in the garden.
- investigated: 'Investigated' suggests a more serious or formal inquiry, which is not appropriate for the playful context of children at play.
Correct answer: unsympathetic
Explanation: 'Unsympathetic' is the correct choice as it describes the headmaster's lack of compassion, fitting the negative sentiment expressed in the sentence. The adjective aligns with the overall tone of Lewis's feelings about the school.
Meaning: 'Unsympathetic' means lacking compassion or understanding, indicating that the headmaster was harsh and unkind.
Wrong options:
- careless: 'Careless' suggests a lack of attention or concern, which does not specifically convey the emotional coldness implied by 'unsympathetic.'
- desensitized: 'Desensitized' means to be made less sensitive, which does not directly relate to the headmaster's character in this context.
- deliberative: 'Deliberative' refers to careful consideration, which is not relevant to the emotional tone of the headmaster's demeanor.
Correct answer: experience
Explanation: 'Experience' is the correct answer as it refers to the process of undergoing something, which fits the context of Lewis's time in England. The noun aligns with the positive sentiment expressed in the sentence.
Meaning: 'Experience' means the knowledge or skill acquired through involvement in or exposure to something, indicating that Lewis's time in England was beneficial.
Wrong options:
- suffering: 'Suffering' implies pain or distress, which contradicts the positive context of the sentence.
- understanding: 'Understanding' refers to the ability to comprehend something, which does not fit the context of describing a period of time.
- essence: 'Essence' refers to the intrinsic nature of something, which is not relevant to the context of Lewis's experiences.
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