Find the sentences in the text where these words occur:

erupt

surge

trace

undistinguished

casualty

Look these words up in a dictionary which gives examples of how they are used.

Now answer the following questions.

1. What are the things that can erupt? Use examples to explain the various meanings of erupt. Now do the same for the word surge. What things can surge?

2. What are the meanings of the word trace and which of the meanings is closest to the word in the text?

3. Can you find undistinguished in your dictionary? (If not, look for the word distinguished and say what undistinguished mean.)

(It is strongly recommended that students find the first part of the answer on their own.)

1. A few things that can erupt are anger, volcano, tooth, rash, riots, unrest, etc.  Erupt has several meanings. Their explanation, with examples, is given as follows:

(i) Start unexpectedly

Example: Riots erupted in the city.

(ii) Start to burn or burst into flames

Example: The spark soon erupted into flames.

(iii) Become active and spew forth lava and rocks

Example: The molten lava erupted out of the active volcano.

(iv) Forceful and violent release of something pent up

Example: The difference in their views soon erupted in a fight.

(v) Sudden appearance on the skin

Example: On the day of the party, a pimple erupted on her face.

(vi) Break out

Example: Eruption of the wisdom tooth gives a lot of pain.

Things that can surge are pride, anxiety, waves, boats, army, etc. The several meanings it has can be explained with the following examples:

(i) Sudden forceful flow

Example: The boy drowned in the surging waves.

(ii) Rise and move forward

The army surged towards their enemy.

(iii) Heave upward under the influence of a natural force

Example: The boat surged in the high tide.

(iv) See one's performance improve

Example: Hard work helped to surge Sandra's scores.

(v) A sudden or abrupt strong increase

Example: The surge in the stock market left people in a shock.

(vi) Rise rapidly

Example: As time passed, her tension surged.

2.  The following are the meanings of the word trace:

(i) Follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something

(ii) Make a mark or lines on a surface

(iii) To go back over again

(iv) Pursue or chase relentlessly

(v) Find or discover through investigation

(vi) Make one's course or travel along a path; travel or pass over, around, or along

(vii) Read with difficulty

The closest meaning of the word ‘trace’ in the text is ‘to find or discover through investigation’.

3. No, the word undistinguished does not exist in the dictionary. However, its meaning can be derived from the meaning of the word ‘distinguished’, which denotes the ‘special or eminent appearance or behaviour of a person’. Thus, undistinguished symbolises ‘ordinary appearance or behaviour of a person’.