Question

Pick out a word from the passage that means 'to make a surprise attack'

Trouble fell on us. The little rabbit sat on our lap, unmoving, its eye wide and dark. We brought it milk, warm milk and held it to its nose. It sat as still as if it was faraway, retreated down some deep burrow, hidden, oblivious. We wetted its mouth and whiskers with drops of milk. It gave no sign, did not even shake off the wet white drops. Somebody began to shed a few secret tears. 'What did I say'? Cried my mother. 'Take it and put it down the field'. Her command was in vain. We were driven to get dressed for school. There sat the rabbit. It was like a tiny obscure cloud. Watching it the emotions died out of our breast. Useless to love it, to yearn over it. Its little feelings were all ambushed.

• A. Retreated
• B. Oblivious
• C. Ambushed
• D. Obscure

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Ambushed

The word “ambushed” means to attack suddenly and unexpectedly, usually by hiding and then surprising the target.

In the line:

“Its little feelings were all ambushed.”

the writer is saying that the rabbit’s feelings were suddenly overwhelmed or attacked, without warning.

Why the others are wrong:

• Retreated → means to move back or withdraw, not attack

• Oblivious → means unaware

• Obscure → means unclear or hard to see