Reading comprehension – Under-19 Cricket World Cup passage: against which team was the semifinal especially hyped in India?

Introduction / Context:
The passage narrates India's path through the Under-19 Cricket World Cup, mentioning early wins, key matches, and the final. One particular match, the semifinal, is described as “much-hyped”, especially from an Indian perspective. The text also notes the margin of victory in that game. Your task is to identify the opponent in this high-profile semifinal.

Given Data / Assumptions:

As per the passage:
- India beat Australia in the opening match by a large margin.
- Papua New Guinea, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, and Pakistan were defeated in subsequent games.
- The semifinal is described as “much-hyped”.
- The passage states that in this much-hyped semifinal against Pakistan, India won by a margin of 203 runs.

Concept / Approach:
This is a detail recall question. The easiest way to answer is to visualise the tournament timeline as described and then focus on the sentence that explicitly names the semifinal opponent. National rivalries and media coverage often make matches against certain teams more hyped than others, and the passage uses that context to highlight the significance of the Pakistan game.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Revisit the section of the passage describing India's wins leading up to the final. Step 2: Identify the sentence that uses the phrase “much-hyped semifinal”. Step 3: Note that the opponent mentioned immediately after that phrase is Pakistan. Step 4: Select “Pakistan” as the answer from the alternatives.

Verification / Alternative check:
Cross-check by scanning the rest of the passage to see how other teams are described. Australia is prominent as a strong opponent in the first match and in the final, but the word “semifinal” paired with “much-hyped” appears only in connection with Pakistan. This confirms that Pakistan is the correct opponent in the question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option b) Australia appears as India's first opponent and in the final, not the semifinal in this narrative.
Option c) Bangladesh is one of the teams that India defeated earlier in the tournament, but not in the much-hyped semifinal.
Option d) Zimbabwe is also listed among earlier opponents but is not associated with the highlighted semifinal encounter.

Common Pitfalls:
Students might confuse the importance of opponents, assuming that any strong team such as Australia must have been the semifinal rival. However, the passage explicitly attaches the “much-hyped semifinal” label to Pakistan, so trusting the text rather than assumptions about cricket rivalries is crucial.

Final Answer:
Pakistan