In this reading comprehension passage about law, order, and citizens, choose the most appropriate meaning of the expression "customs and ceremonies" in the sentence "to protect the rights of communities and castes to carry out their customs and ceremonies".

Introduction / Context:
This question is drawn from a passage that explains how law and order are maintained in normal times. The passage mentions that laws protect the rights of communities and castes to carry out their customs and ceremonies, as long as these do not conflict with the rights of others. The expression customs and ceremonies needs to be interpreted carefully. The question asks which option best captures its meaning within this legal and social context, where the state protects peaceful social and religious activities of different groups.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The phrase occurs in a sentence about protecting community rights.
• The activities must be legitimate and socially recognised, not harmful or illegal.
• Options include fairs and festivals, habits and traditions, usual practices and religious rites, superstitions and formalities, ordinary rules and laws.
• The correct answer must cover both social practices and religious functions.

Concept / Approach:
Customs are established ways of behaving within a community, often traditional and long standing. Ceremonies are formal acts or religious rites carried out on special occasions, such as marriages, festivals, and rituals. When combined as customs and ceremonies, the expression refers to both regular traditional practices and special formal or religious observances. Our approach is to choose the option that mentions both usual practices and religious rites in a neutral, respectful way, matching the tone of the passage.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Consider fairs and festivals. These are special events, but the phrase customs and ceremonies is broader and includes everyday traditions as well. Step 2: Consider habits and traditions. Habits can be purely individual and casual; the phrase in the passage is about community practices, not personal habits. Step 3: Consider usual practices and religious rites. This option combines ordinary traditional practices with formal religious ceremonies and fits closely with customs and ceremonies. Step 4: Consider superstitions and formalities. Superstitions carries a negative judgment, which the neutral passage does not express. Step 5: Consider ordinary rules and laws. Rules and laws are legal terms, but the passage is about what the law protects, not about the laws themselves. Step 6: Conclude that usual practices and religious rites best matches both the meaning of the words and the legal context.

Verification / Alternative check:
We can verify by paraphrasing the sentence using the chosen option: Laws are made to protect the rights of communities and castes to carry out their usual practices and religious rites, so long as they do not conflict with the rights of others. This version keeps exactly the same meaning as the original and reads naturally. If we substitute fairs and festivals, we lose the sense of everyday customs. If we substitute superstitions, we introduce a judgmental tone that the original neutral statement does not have. Thus, the option that speaks of usual practices and religious rites is clearly the most accurate.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Fairs and festivals: Too narrow, focusing only on occasional large events and not covering all customs or ceremonies. Habits and traditions: Habits may be private and trivial, whereas the passage focuses on socially recognised community practices and formal rites. Superstitions and formalities: Adds a negative idea of superstition and reduces ceremonies to empty formality, which is not suggested by the passage. Ordinary rules and laws: Confuses what is protected (social and religious practices) with the instruments that provide protection (laws). Therefore, these options distort the neutral and inclusive meaning of customs and ceremonies.

Common Pitfalls:
A typical mistake is to choose fairs and festivals because many students immediately think of public celebrations when they hear the phrase customs and ceremonies. Another pitfall is to be influenced by words like superstitions, reading their own judgments into the passage. When answering reading comprehension questions, it is vital to stay close to the tone and intention of the author, which here is neutral and protective, not critical. Selecting the option that names both usual practices and religious rites keeps us faithful to the passage.

Final Answer:
The expression customs and ceremonies in this passage most accurately means usual practices and religious rites.