Read the passage about awareness and answer the question: In the passage, what does an "ornithologist" study?

Introduction / Context:
Among the questions based on the awareness passage, this one checks your knowledge of a specific vocabulary item: "ornithologist." The term appears when the author speculates about the boy's future, suggesting that early naming and classification of birds might lead him to a particular scientific profession. The question tests both your comprehension of that line and your recognition of the word's meaning.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The passage describes a boy who initially enjoys watching and listening to birds without knowing their names.
• The "good father" names the birds and starts the child's education.
• Later the passage says, "Maybe he will be an ornithologist when he grows up."
• The question asks: "What does an Ornithologist study?" with options referring to different living things.

Concept / Approach:
The prefix "ornitho" comes from a Greek word meaning "bird," and "logist" refers to someone who studies or has specialised knowledge. So an ornithologist is a person who scientifically studies birds. The passage itself is about birds singing and being named, which reinforces this meaning. Therefore, the correct option must be the one referring to birds, not insects, plants, or fish.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Remember the context in which "ornithologist" appears: right after the father starts naming birds. Step 2: Connect the term with its subject matter: the boy might go on to study birds professionally. Step 3: Recognise that "ornithology" is the branch of zoology dealing with birds. Step 4: Among the options, select "Birds" as the only one matching this field. Step 5: Rule out all other options as unrelated branches of study.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can cross check by recalling other biological terms: "entomology" for insects, "botany" for plants, and "ichthyology" for fish. None of these are related to the word "ornithologist." In everyday language, you might hear phrases like "ornithological study" or "ornithologists observe migratory patterns of birds," which clearly tie the profession to birds. This confirms that "Birds" is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Insects: Studied by entomologists, not ornithologists.
• The different species of plants: Studied in botany by botanists, not in ornithology.
• Fish: Studied by ichthyologists; again, this is a different specialised field.

Common Pitfalls:
If you are unfamiliar with scientific root words, you may attempt to guess based on how the word sounds or by eliminating options randomly. In vocabulary questions like this, it is helpful to learn common Greek and Latin roots (such as "ornitho," "entomo," "ichthyo," and "botan") because they appear frequently in competitive exams. Recognising these patterns makes it much easier to decode unfamiliar scientific terms.

Final Answer:
An ornithologist is a scientist who studies birds.