Question -
Answer -
(a) They looked like black mountains.
(b) Inside the clouds, everything was suddenly black.
(c) In the black clouds near me, I saw another aeroplane.
(d) The strange black aeroplane was there.
The word ‘black’ in sentences (a) and (c) refers to the very darkest colour. But in (b) and (d) (here) it means without light/with no light.
‘Black’ has a variety of meanings in different contexts. For example:
(a) ‘I prefer black tea’ means ‘I prefer tea without milk’.
(b) ‘With increasing pollution the future of the world is black’ means
‘With increasing pollution the future of the world is very depressing/ without hope’.
Now, try to guess the meanings of the word ‘black’ in the sentences given below. Check the meanings in the dictionary and find out whether you have guessed right.
1. Go and have a bath; your hands and face are absolutely black. ____________________________
2. The taxi-driver gave Ratan a black look as he crossed the road when the traffic light was green. ____________________________
3. The bombardment of Hiroshima is one of the blackest crimes against humanity. _______________
4. Very few people enjoy Harold Pinter’s black comedy. __________________________________
5. Sometimes shopkeepers store essential goods to create false scarcity and then sell these in black. ____________________________
6. Villagers had beaten the criminal black and blue. ____________________________________
Answer:
1. Go and have a bath; your hands and face are absolutely black. – The meaning of ‘black’ in this sentence denotes that the face and hands are dark due to dust and dirt.
2. The taxi-driver gave Ratan a black look as he crossed the road when the traffic light was green. – The meaning of ‘black’ in this sentence refers to an angry or annoyed look.
3. The bombardment of Hiroshima is one of the blackest crimes against humanity. – The meaning of ‘black’ in this sentence denotes a dark and brutal incident against humanity.
4. Very few people enjoy Harold Pinter’s black comedy. – The meaning of ‘black’ in this sentence denotes dark or distressing comedy.
5. Sometimes shopkeepers store essential goods to create false scarcity and then sell these in black. – The meaning of ‘black’ in this sentence refers to hoarding of goods by shopkeepers to sell those goods at a higher price later.
6. Villagers had beaten the criminal black and blue. – The meaning of ‘black’ in this sentence denotes that the criminal was beaten and badly bruised by the villagers.