A passage describes efforts to eradicate the practice of chhaupadi and notes that the push from authorities is "far too muted". Choose the word that best describes the reaction of the authorities.

Introduction / Context:
This question asks you to interpret a single descriptive phrase from a passage about attempts to eradicate the harmful practice of chhaupadi. The passage mentions that the push from villagers, the police, and local politicians is "far too muted". You must select the word that best describes this kind of reaction from the authorities.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Authorities are supposed to help eradicate chhaupadi.
• The passage states that their effort or push is "far too muted".
• You are given four adjectives or participles and must choose the one that matches "muted" in this context.
• The focus is on the strength or intensity of the response.

Concept / Approach:
In this context, "muted" means low in intensity, restrained, or not forceful enough. It can describe a response that is weak, quiet, or lacking in energy. The best word among the options will reflect the idea of a low key or weak reaction, as opposed to strong or enthusiastic support. We must ignore options that are incorrectly formed or that do not fit the grammatical context.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Interpret "muted" here as subdued, not loud, restrained, or weak. Step 2: Look at option A, "Subdued". This word means restrained, quiet, or not intense, which is very close to the meaning of "muted" in this context. Step 3: Look at option B, "Softened". This suggests that something was made softer, but does not directly describe a general weak level of effort. Step 4: Look at option C, "Dampened". While it can mean reduced enthusiasm, it is usually used for spirits, sound, or impact and is slightly less precise here than "subdued". Step 5: Look at option D, "Quite". This is a misspelt form of "quiet" or is a different word meaning "entirely" or "rather". As written, it is incorrect in this context. Step 6: Conclude that "Subdued" is the most accurate word to describe a muted official response.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify by rewriting the key sentence: "the push to eradicate the practice was still far too muted" becomes "the push to eradicate the practice was still far too subdued". Both sentences suggest that the authorities have not acted strongly enough. If you try "softened" or "dampened", the sentence does not sound as natural or precise in describing an ongoing low intensity response. The misspelt "Quite" cannot be used at all in this position. This practical test supports "Subdued" as the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"Softened" implies that something became gentle or less harsh, which does not capture the idea of an already weak or underwhelming response. "Dampened" often refers to spirits or enthusiasm being reduced after a specific event, rather than a persistent state of being weak from the start. "Quite" is incorrect in spelling and meaning for this context. None of these matches the idea of a consistently weak and quiet official push as well as "subdued" does.

Common Pitfalls:
A typical mistake is to treat "muted" only as related to sound and choose a word like "quiet" or its misspelt form. However, modern usage allows "muted" to describe any kind of low intensity reaction, including emotional or political responses. Another pitfall is selecting "dampened" simply because it also suggests reduction, but the nuance of "subdued" is closer to an ongoing quietness or lack of force, which is what the passage highlights.

Final Answer:
The reaction of the authorities toward the eradication of chhaupadi is best described as subdued.