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  1. GATE CS
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11.21.10 Word Meaning: GATE2016 EC-3 GA-2 The Buddha said, "Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burnt." Select the word below which is closest in meaning to the word underlined above. A. Burning B. Igniting C. Clutching D. Flinging

GATE 2016 · General Aptitude · Word Meaning · medium

Answer: C. Clutching is closest in meaning to 'grasping' - both describe the action of firmly holding something in the hand.

  1. Establish the meaning of 'grasping': 'Grasping a hot coal' = seizing and holding a piece of burning coal firmly in the hand. The key action is gripping/holding, not burning or throwing.
  2. Evaluate each option: A. Burning - describes the effect of touching coal, not the action of holding. B. Igniting - means starting a fire; not related to holding. C. Clutching - means to hold tightly, a direct synonym for grasping. D. Flinging - means to throw; the quote mentions throwing as the intent, but grasping is the action before throwing.