Question

Choose the exact meaning of the idioms/phrases.
The study of insects was a fascinating pursuit for him.
(A) Anthropology
(B) Zoology
(C) Etymology
(D) Entomology

Answer 1

Hint:As the question is stated, it actually asks the one-word adjective form of a category of persons. By mentioning here “study of insects”, a distinct branch of science that is concerned with the study of insects and their relationship to humans, the environment, and other organisms is depicted. In terms of grammar, if we could have that appropriate vocabulary to describe such a field, we would regard them as a ‘noun’.

Complete answer:
1. First we have to see each option and try to reveal the meanings of these words in order to see if they are found similar with such meaning. Here we have found all of those nouns. We have to find out which noun best describes the underlined phrase in the question.
2. The meaning of ‘anthropology’ applies to the branch of biology, which is concerned with the study of human behaviour, human biology and societies, in both the present and past, including past human species.
3. The word ‘zoology’ depicts the study of animals and their structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct, and how they interact with their ecosystems.
4. The word ‘etymology’ depicts the study of the history of words. It means the origin of a particular word.
5. The word ‘entomology’ is a noun. This is a branch of zoology that is concerned with the scientific study of insects and their behavioural aspects.
6. From all of these meanings as stated above, we can derive that the word ‘entomology’ is most appropriate and apt for the phrase “study of insects”.

Hence the correct answer is option ‘D'.

Note: You can note here the meaning of ‘entomology’ is also close to the word ‘zoology’. But you can notice further that the word ‘entomology’ is concerned with the study of only insects. Whereas ‘zoology’ deals with the whole animal kingdom making it a much vast subject.