English

Plutocracy is a form of government where the wealthy class rules or has significant power, which matches the definition 'government by the rich.'

Cædmon’s Hymn is widely recognized as the earliest surviving work in English literature, dating back to the 7th century. It predates other works like Beowulf and the Peterborough Chronicle, making option B the correct answer.

The adjective 'astonished' is most commonly followed by the preposition 'at' when referring to someone's behavior or an event. For example, 'I am astonished at his behaviour' is the standard and correct usage. The options given do not include 'at', but among the options, 'on' is sometimes used in British English in certain contexts, though less common. 'With' is not standard usage with 'astonished'. Therefore, the best correction is to change the correct answer to 'D' ('On'), but ideally, the question should include 'at' as the correct preposition. Since 'at' is not an option, 'on' is the closest acceptable choice here.

A 'parasol' is a type of umbrella designed primarily to provide shade from the sun, often used by ladies. The other options do not relate to umbrellas.

The word 'gaunt' means very thin and bony, often due to illness or hunger. Therefore, 'Bony' is the correct synonym among the options provided.

The phrase 'I might have thought' is the most natural and commonly used expression in this context, indicating a past assumption or expectation. The other options are less idiomatic or do not fit well grammatically.

The phrase 'I'm in the area' is the most natural and commonly used expression when referring to being somewhere nearby or within a general region. 'I'm in the place' is uncommon because 'place' is vague and usually paired with 'at' rather than 'in'. 'I'm in the spot' is informal and very specific, used to indicate an exact point. 'I'm in the location' sounds formal and technical, rarely used in casual speech. Therefore, 'Area' is the best fit for the blank in the sentence 'I've already told you I'm in the _________?'.

The idiom 'Pull your socks up' means to make an effort to improve your performance or behavior. Therefore, option D, 'To improve,' is the correct meaning of this phrase.

An epic is a long narrative poem or story that recounts the deeds of old-time gods or heroes, which fits the description best. A legend is a traditional story sometimes regarded as historical but not necessarily about gods or heroes specifically. Therefore, 'Epic' is the most accurate answer.

The correct preposition to use with 'abstained' in this context is 'from,' making the phrase 'abstained from salted food' grammatically correct. The sentence means the doctor advised him not to consume salted food.