Question 39: Which of the following is the most appropriate option to…

Directions : In the following passage, some of the words have been left out and replaced by a blank represented by an alphabet. First read the passage and try to understand what it is about. Then fill in the blanks as per the questions given.

Early one morning, Antonio, a noble youth of sixteen, was wandering by the seashore. He had just come from a high school in Salerno, Italy, and wished to spend the Easter holidays at his father’s ____(A) home. The earth looked gay in all the beauty of spring, and the sea shone in the rosy light of the morning sun. Antonio’s heart glowed with ____(B) as he gazed upon the scene, and he thanked the Creator of all these wonders. With hurried steps he continued his way, thinking of his home and the reception awaiting him. His parents were of noble birth. They had lost considerable property and money; but they desired to give their son every advantage and – what was worth more than money – an excellent education. From his earliest childhood, they had taught him to reverence God and respect the laws. All his talents were being carefully ____(C). At a great personal sacrifice, they had sent him to the high school. Here Antonio denied himself many pleasures in which his richer classmates indulged, and tried in every way to live ____(D). He made no secret of his lack of money, nor did he envy those who possessed more than he did. So on this particular morning we find Antonio saving traveling expenses by making the journey to his home on foot. The path led through some tall bushes and curved around a huge rock. Here he suddenly ____(E) a queer looking vessel lying at anchor. Several men with ____(F) faces, clothed in a strange, odd fashion, were drawing water from a spring which gushed from the rock. They were pirates from Algiers.