Question

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word.
- What time do you get up on Sundays?
- About half past six.
- Why so early?
- I get up at that time on week-days, and ______, you know.

A. Deeds, not words.
B. Neck or nothing.
C. Custom is a second nature.
D. No rose, without a thorn.
E. When angry, count a hundred.

Answer 1

Hint: The given conversation is about a habit of waking up early in the morning. The given options are proverbs which have meanings different from their individual words. They are used to refer to a situation. We will choose the proverb which explains the situation in the question in an apt way.

Complete answer:
Let us analyse each option individually in detail to figure out the correct answer.

A. Deeds, not words: The proverb ‘deeds, not words’ means that what matters is our action, not what we just speak about it. Example: “He said he will complete the entire book in a day! I told him, lets see. deeds not words my friend !” This is not the correct reference of the dialogue. Therefore, this is not the correct answer.

B. Neck or nothing: The proverb ‘neck or nothing’ means utter recklessness, at high risks. Example: “He has invested the entire capital in this project. This is a neck or nothing.” This is not the correct reference of the dialogue. Therefore, this is not the correct answer.

C. Custom is a second nature: This proverb means that when we do a particular thing for a long time, we develop it as our habit and after a time it starts happening effortlessly and automatically . Example: “My grandfather just can’t do without a pen in his pocket. He keeps it every single day. I think custom is a second nature.” This is the correct reference of the dialogue. This conveys that since the other person wakes up at half past six every single day, it has become his habit and now, even on Sundays he wakes up at the same time.
D. No rose, without a thorn: This proverb means that there is no success or reward without its share of trouble or obstacles . Example: “The entrance examination of being a doctor is really difficult. No rose without a thorn, I guess!” This is not the correct reference of the dialogue. Therefore, this is not the correct answer.

E. When angry, count a hundred: This proverb means that when we are angry, we should not speak or react immediately, because in anger we often tend to react or speak in an inappropriate manner. Example: “I have always told him, when angry, count hundred. As he is very short tempered and often messes up with people and hurts them.” This is not the correct reference of the dialogue. Therefore, this is not the correct answer.

Hence, the correct answer is Option ‘C’.

Note: Proverbs are phrases or set of words that is a traditional saying and expresses a truth perceived by experience. Example: A bad workman always blames his tools. This means that a man who is incompetent himself, will blame the resources for a bad performance or action.
Example: Good things come in small packages.
Example: action speaks louder than words.