As winter approached, the homesteaders realized their grain reserves were far lower than anticipated. With heavy snows threatening to isolate the valley for months, they could not rely on replenishment from neighboring towns. The community elders advised the families to husband their remaining supplies, distributing rations with strict equity and reducing daily consumption by half. By carefully managing their wheat and dried meat, the settlers hoped to sustain themselves until the spring thaw allowed trading caravans to return. This disciplined approach to resource management ultimately saved the small settlement from starvation.
As it is used in the passage, the word 'husband' most nearly means which of the following?
- Adistribute
- Bmarry
- conserveAnswer
- Dconsume
Answer
conserve
The correct answer is 'conserve'. In the context of the passage, the homesteaders are facing a scarcity of resources and must protect their limited grain supplies. To 'husband' resources means to manage them economically or conserve them, which aligns with the details about reducing consumption and carefully managing their grain.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Identifying the secondary meaning of a common word using context clues