Which one of the following comes closest in meaning to the author&rsquo;s understanding of topophilia?

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Question :

Which one of the following comes closest in meaning to the author’s understanding of topophilia?

Started 2 weeks ago by Shashank in

A.
The French are not overly patriotic, but they will refuse to use English as far as possible, even when they know it well.
B.
The tendency of many cultures to represent their land as “motherland” or “fatherland” may be seen as an expression of their topophilia.
C.
Scientists have found that most creatures, including humans, are either born with or cultivate a strong sense of topography.
D.

Nomadic societies are known to have the least affinity for the lands through which they traverse because they tend to be topophobic.

Option B is the correct answer.

Explanatory Answer

The author describes topophilia as an ‘affective’ (emotional) bond between people and place. The tendency to represent one’s land “motherland” or “fatherland” is an example of this.

Option 1 relates to the bond the French have with their language. Topophilia is emotional bonding with a place.

Option 3 talks of “a sense of topography”—an understating of the physical features of a place. This is completely different from topophilia.

Option 4 relates to topophobia whereas the question relates to topophilia.