According to the passage on cyclone naming in the north Indian Ocean, answer the following comprehension question: “Which type of cyclones do people tend to remember by name, as mentioned in the passage?”

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: The most destructive ones

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question asks about a specific claim made in the passage concerning which cyclone names people actually remember. The writer explains that many cyclone names never enter public awareness because the storms die out before landfall. Only some cyclones become widely known. You must identify the criterion that, according to the passage, makes certain cyclone names stick in people’s memory. The question therefore tests precise comprehension of the author’s observation.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The passage notes that many cyclones dissipate long before they hit land, so their names rarely reach newspapers or other media.
  • It then states that the names people know about and remember are “those that were most destructive ones, or very recent.”
  • Examples given include Aila in 2009 and Phailin in 2013, both associated with significant damage.
  • Lesser damaging or harmless cyclones often do not leave a lasting impression on the public.
  • The options offer several possible interpretations, such as origin, memorability of sound, absence of deaths, and level of destruction.


Concept / Approach:
The key is to focus on the exact wording in the passage rather than relying on assumptions about geography or emotional impact. The author connects public memory directly with the level of destruction or recent occurrence. The question asks which type of cyclones people remember, so you must choose the option that matches this description most closely. Since “most destructive” is explicitly mentioned, and no emphasis is placed on origin in the Bay of Bengal or on the mere sound of names, the answer becomes clear.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Find the sentence that discusses which names people remember. Step 2: Note the phrase that says the names people know and remember are “those that were most destructive ones, or very recent.” Step 3: Compare this statement with the options provided. Step 4: Option A talks about cyclones that originate in the Bay of Bengal, which the passage does not single out as especially memorable. Step 5: Option B suggests that memorable names are remembered for their sound alone, which is not what the passage claims. Step 6: Option C describes cyclones that do not cause any deaths, which directly contradicts the idea of “most destructive.” Step 7: Option D, “the most destructive ones,” matches the wording in the passage and also aligns with the destructive examples Aila and Phailin.


Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, you can evaluate the given examples. Aila and Phailin are remembered specifically for the enormous destruction they caused in West Bengal, Bangladesh, and along the Odisha coast. The passage does not emphasize their region of origin as the main reason for remembrance; instead, it highlights their destructive impact. Additionally, the author mentions harmless cyclones like Hudhud and Nilofar as possibly memorable because they are recent, but the main emphasis remains on destruction. Therefore, the type of cyclone most strongly associated with being remembered is the destructive one.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Cyclones originating in the Bay of Bengal (Option A) may be frequent, but the passage does not say that origin alone makes them memorable. Option B suggests that the sound or creativity of the name itself makes the cyclone remembered, but the text does not support this claim. Option C describes harmless cyclones with no deaths, whereas the passage focuses on those that caused heavy damage and destruction.


Common Pitfalls:
A frequent error is to rely on personal intuition, assuming that unusual or pleasant sounding names are remembered more easily. However, examination questions in reading comprehension always require answers grounded in what the passage states, not in general imagination. Another pitfall is to focus only on the examples of recent harmless cyclones and forget the phrase “most destructive ones.” To avoid such mistakes, underline key phrases in the passage and check that your chosen option corresponds directly to those phrases.


Final Answer:
According to the passage, people mainly remember the cyclone names that belong to “the most destructive ones” (along with very recent storms).

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