A local man, staying on the top floor of an old wooden house, was awakened at midnight by a fire. Losing his way in a smoke-filled passage, he missed the stairway and went into another room. He picked up a bundle to protect his face from the fire and immediately fell through the floor below where he managed to escape through a clear doorway. The ‘bundle’ proved to be the baby of the Mayor's wife. The ‘hero’ was congratulated by all.
The man was called a hero because he

Correct Option (4)

The passage explicitly states, "The ‘bundle’ proved to be the baby of the Mayor's wife. The ‘hero’ was congratulated by all." This directly links the man's heroic designation to the act of saving the baby's life. Although the rescue was unintentional, the outcome of preserving a life is the basis for the commendation.

Incorrect Options:

• Option 1: The narrative does not indicate that the man expressed a conscious willingness to risk his life for others. His actions were a series of reactive events in a chaotic situation, not a deliberate act of self-sacrifice for another's benefit.

• Option 2: While the man did manage to escape the fire, this act of self-preservation alone is generally not sufficient to earn the title of 'hero' in the context of the passage, especially when a more significant outcome, such as saving another life, is highlighted as the reason for his praise.

• Option 3: The passage describes the man losing his way in smoke, picking up a bundle, and falling through the floor. There is no mention of him actively fighting the fire or demonstrating courage in confronting it. His actions were focused on navigation and escape.