Comprehension

I was on the point of asking him what that work might be, but something in his manner showed me that the question would be an unwelcome one. I pondered over our short conversation, however, and endeavoured to draw my deductions from it. He said that he would acquire no knowledge which did not bear upon his object. Therefore all the knowledge which he possessed was such as would be useful to him. I enumerated in my own mind all the various points upon which he had shown me that he was exceptionally well-informed. I even took a pencil and jotted them down. I could not help smiling at the document when I had completed it. It ran in this way— Sherlock Holmes—his limits. 1. Knowledge of Literature.—Nil. 2. Philosophy.—Nil. 3. Astronomy.—Nil. 4. Politics.—Feeble. 5. Botany.—Variable. Well up in belladonna, opium, and poisons generally. Knows nothing of practical gardening. 6. Practical but limited. Tells at a glance different soils from each other. After walks has shown me splashes upon his trousers, and told me by their colour and consistence in what part of London he had received them. 7. Chemistry.—Profound. 8. Anatomy.—Accurate, but unsystematic. 9. Sensational Literature.—Immense. He appears to know every detail of every horror perpetrated in the century. 10. Plays the violin well. 11. Is an expert singlestick player, boxer, and swordsman. 12. Has a good practical knowledge of British law. 

Question: 1

Which of the following statements BEST DESCRIBES the Sherlock Holmes?

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For "best describes" questions, evaluate each option against the evidence in the text. Look for the strongest support. Words like "Profound," "Immense," or "Nil" are stronger indicators than words like "Feeble" or "Variable."
Updated On: Oct 13, 2025
  • Wiley politician
  • Aesthetic landscaper
  • Intelligent Chemist
  • Distinguished jurist
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Question
The question asks for the best description of Sherlock Holmes based on the list of his skills and knowledge provided in the passage.

Step 2: Analyzing the Description of Sherlock Holmes
We need to check the list in the passage for evidence supporting each option. The list details Holmes's areas of expertise and ignorance.


Politics: "Knowledge of Politics.—Feeble."

Botany/Gardening: "Knows nothing of practical gardening."

Chemistry: "Knowledge of Chemistry.—Profound."

Law: "Has a good practical knowledge of British law."


Step 3: Evaluating the Options


(A) Wiley politician: This is incorrect. The passage explicitly states his knowledge of politics is "Feeble."

(B) Aesthetic landscaper: This is incorrect. The passage states he "Knows nothing of practical gardening."

(C) Intelligent Chemist: This is a strong candidate. The passage describes his knowledge of Chemistry as "Profound," which means deep and extensive. "Intelligent" is a reasonable adjective for someone with such specialized and profound knowledge.

(D) Distinguished jurist: While he has a "good practical knowledge" of law, this is not as strong as his "profound" knowledge of chemistry. "Distinguished jurist" implies a high-ranking legal expert, which is an overstatement based on the text.


Step 4: Final Answer
Comparing the options, the description "Intelligent Chemist" is the most strongly and directly supported by the text, which uses the powerful word "Profound" to describe his chemical knowledge. Therefore, option (C) is the best description.
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Question: 2

What was the FEELING of the describer when he completed the enumeration of knowledge of Sherlock Holmes?

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Focus on the specific wording used to describe feelings or reactions. The text says the narrator "could not help smiling," which is a clear, positive emotional response. Match the options to this direct evidence.
Updated On: Oct 13, 2025
  • Jealous
  • Contemplative
  • Happy
  • Impressive
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Question
The question asks to identify the emotion or feeling of the narrator (the "describer") immediately after he finished creating the list of Sherlock Holmes's abilities.

Step 2: Locating the Narrator's Reaction in the Passage
The passage provides a direct statement about the narrator's feeling upon completing the list. It says: "I could not help smiling at the document when I had completed it."

Step 3: Interpreting the Feeling
A smile is a physical expression most commonly associated with feelings of happiness, amusement, or pleasure. The narrator finds the strange and specific nature of Holmes's knowledge amusing.


(A) Jealous: There is no indication of envy in the passage.

(B) Contemplative: The narrator was contemplative ("pondered") while creating the list, but his reaction *after* completing it was to smile.

(C) Happy: Smiling is a direct sign of being happy or amused. This aligns perfectly with the text.

(D) Impressive: While the list might be impressive, the narrator's explicitly stated reaction is "smiling," which is better captured by "Happy" or "Amused." Between the given options, 'Happy' is the closest fit to the feeling expressed by a smile.


Step 4: Final Answer
The narrator's act of smiling directly indicates a feeling of happiness or amusement. Therefore, option (C) is the most appropriate answer.
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