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The passage discusses the complexities and puzzling observations regarding the common cold, particularly its transmission and infection theory. It mentions that despite some studies indicating that colds can spread, there are observations (such as those made by the investigator in Holland) that do not fit with the theory of infection. This suggests that the origin of colds and how they spread is not definitively understood.

The passage states that rare diseases are easier to handle compared to common illnesses like the cold because there are not many cases of rare diseases, and all of them have been intensively studied. This suggests that there is a greater amount of research and information available regarding rare diseases, making it easier to understand and deal with them compared to common colds, which are widespread and less understood.

The writer mentions that “some widely held beliefs about the common cold have turned out not to be true,” implying that there are widely held beliefs about the common cold that are not true, or are mistaken (fallacious).

The passage provides evidence supporting that the common cold is indeed infectious, especially in the part describing the experiment at the Common Cold Research Unit in Salisbury. Here, a group was inoculated with secretions from cold sufferers, and seventy-three of them developed colds, as opposed to only one person from the salt-water group. This result supports the idea that the common cold is infectious.

The answer is explicitly stated in the passage: "In the British Medical Journal the other day, there was a report of a meeting. ‘The Common Cold - Fact and Fancy’, at which one of the speakers reported a study of colds made in Cirencester over the last five years. Three hundred and fifty volunteers had kept diary records of their colds..." So, the volunteers in Cirencester kept a record of their colds through personal diaries, as mentioned in the passage.

The phrase "not in memory but in expectation" means that young people focus more on looking forward to the future than reflecting on past experiences. This portrays their lack of extensive life experience or accumulated memories—qualities often associated with innocence. They are less rooted in past knowledge or caution and are more open and hopeful for what lies ahead.

The statement "nature warms their blood as though with an excess of wine" is a metaphor for young men's temperament. The metaphor is saying that young men's temperament is passionate and intense, similar to the way one might act with confidence or enthusiasm after consuming excess wine, which can make a person more animated and assertive.

The passage compares young men’s desires to "sick people’s attacks of hunger and thirst," which are described as "keen but not deep-rooted." This suggests that, like a sick person’s sudden but brief cravings, young men experience strong emotions that are intense while they last but quickly fade. This makes option C the most accurate choice.

The passage describes young men as having "strong passions" and a tendency to "gratify them indiscriminately." It shows that young men are "changeable and fickle in their desires, which are violent while they last but quickly over." This implies that young men are active and restless (or *restive*) until these desires are satisfied.

The passage explains that young people "trust others readily because they have not yet been cheated." This suggests that they tend to be overly trusting or optimistic without caution, making "reckless" the best choice among the options. Their "courage" or confidence is the result of their optimism and not the cause. This is explained explicitly in the last two sentences of the passage.

The sentence describes the Senate as a body that makes laws, which is a legislative function. "Executive" and "administrative" refer to those who enforce laws, and "judicial" refers to those who interpret laws.

The sentence implies the Senate’s intention to counteract or cancel the president's executive action. This makes "nullify" (to make legally void) the best fit.

The term "arm" is commonly used to refer to branches of government, such as the executive, legislative and judicial arms, so it’s appropriate to refer to the Senate as an arm of the National Assembly.

Within the National Assembly, the House of Representatives could hold an opposing view. "National Assembly" includes both houses i.e the Senate and House of Representatives. They are meant to work hand in hand, but often they can take a "diametrically opposed" viewpoint to that of the Senate.

A Plaintiff is the party initiating a complaint or accusation in a legal dispute. In the passage, the Senate is described as both initiating an action against the executive and judging it.