Multiple choice

Direction: Select the option with a similar meaning as per the context.

Lament

Directions: Some words in the verse below have been highlighted. Select the best meaning for the corresponding word.

I heard a thousand blended notes,
While in a grove I sat reclined,
In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts
Bring sad thoughts to the mind.
To her fair works did Nature link
The human soul that through me ran;
And much it grieved my heart to think
What man has made of man.
Through primrose tufts, in that green bower,
The periwinkle trailed its wreaths;
And ’tis my faith that every flower
Enjoys the air it breathes.
The birds around me hopped and played,
Their thoughts I cannot measure
But the least motion which they made
It seemed a thrill of pleasure.
The budding twigs spread out their fan,
To catch the breezy air;
And I must think, do all I can,
That there was pleasure there.
If this belief from heaven be sent,
If such be Nature’s holy plan,
Have I not reason to lament
What man has made of man?

 

  1. Justify

  2. Relax

  3. Mourn

  4. Be anxious

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

In this context, 'lament' expresses grief about what humanity has done to nature. The poem moves from appreciating nature's beauty to expressing sorrow about human destruction. 'Lament' means to mourn or express deep sadness, not to justify, relax, or be anxious.