Questions

Subdued means restrained in style or quality. Softened means being or made softer or less loud or clear.
Dampened means to suppress or constrain so as to lessen in intensity. Quite means to a degree (not used with a negative).
Silenced means reduced to silence. The reaction of the authorities is already mentioned, i.e. muted. All the options, except 'quite', are synonymous with 'muted'. But the reaction was toned-down. Hence, the correct answer is 1.

Tennis rackets and ballpoint pens are two independent goods. Since, one doesn't depend on the other.

Separation of an employee exists when the service of an employee comes to an end because of one reason or other. "Separation of employment" refers broadly to the process of managing the termination of employment. It is a sensitive issue for any organization. 

Types of separation:

1) Volunntary:

a) Resignation
b) Job abandonment
c) Retirement

2) Involuntary:

a) Layoff
b) Dismissal
c) Plant closure
d) Death or Disability.

In the early 20th century, the Balkans were called a "powder keg" because the political situation in the region was very unstable. For a long time, the Ottoman Turks occupied the balkans, and with the rise of nationalism, some balkan states declared independence.

23 hrs, 56 minutes and 4.9 seconds

Dr Manmohan Singh also announced that the year 2012 would be celebrated as the National Mathematics Year. The Indian mathematical genius Srinivasa Ramanujan was born on 22 December 1887 and died on 26 April 1920.