Reading comprehension – Under-19 Cricket World Cup passage: which personal quality of Rahul Dravid is highlighted in the text as coach of the team?

Introduction / Context:
This question focuses on how Rahul Dravid, the coach of the Under-19 team, is portrayed in the passage. While his technical knowledge and fame as a former player are well known in general, the passage chooses to emphasise one particular trait that supports the young players emotionally and mentally as they deal with success and attention.

Given Data / Assumptions:

From the passage we learn that:
- Rahul Dravid is the coach of the Under-19 World Cup team.
- The text describes his presence in the dressing room as “calming”.
- His guidance helps the players handle the double-edged sword of success and early celebrity.
- He urges them not to treat this victory as the defining memory of their lives, but as a beginning.

Concept / Approach:
The question asks for the particular quality mentioned, not for every quality Dravid might possess. The key phrase is “calming presence of Dravid in the dressing room”. That phrase explicitly associates him with calmness, reassurance, and grounded advice. Options that describe dominance, aggressiveness, or physical traits do not appear in the passage and therefore cannot be correct.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Locate the sentence that mentions Rahul Dravid in the dressing room. Step 2: Identify the adjective used in that context, which is “calming”. Step 3: Understand that this word refers to his ability to keep the team grounded and focused amid hype. Step 4: Choose the option that best captures this quality, namely calmness and a steady presence.

Verification / Alternative check:
Rephrase the key idea: “The constant supportive calm of Dravid in the dressing room helped the teenagers manage the pressures of success.” Only option a aligns with this description. The other choices suggest behaviours or traits that are not mentioned anywhere in the passage.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option b) “A dominating personality” does not fit the idea of calming presence, which suggests gentle guidance rather than domination.
Option c) “Extreme aggressiveness” contradicts the calm, reflective tone explicitly attributed to him in the passage.
Option d) “Sheer physical strength and stamina” is irrelevant: the passage focuses on psychological and moral leadership, not physical prowess.

Common Pitfalls:
Students might project Dravid's reputation as a gritty batsman or coach and assume aggressiveness or dominance is being praised. However, comprehension questions must be answered from the words on the page, not from outside knowledge. The passage clearly singles out calmness as his defining quality in this context.

Final Answer:
Calmness and a steady presence