Questions

The  plant  growth  regulators  are small,  simple  molecules  of  diversechemical composition. They can be in   form   of   indole   compounds, adenine   derivatives,   carotenoids derivatives,terpenes  or  gases  like ethyleneetc.The   plant   growth regulators  are  bifurcated  into  two groups according to their functions in  a  living  plant  body.First  group of   plant   growth   regulators   are found   in   growth   activities,   for instance,  cell  division,  flowering, fruiting  and  seed  formation.The second   group   of   Plant   growth regulators   are   involved   in   plant responses  to  wounds  and  stresses of biotic and abiotic origin.

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.