Question

Difficulty: MediumSecondary Meanings of Common Words

Throughout his long academic career, Dr. Vance was renowned primarily for his pioneering achievements in organic chemistry. However, close associates knew that he also possessed a remarkable faculty for classical languages, often spending his evenings translating obscure ancient Greek texts. His colleagues frequently marveled at how easily he could transition from analyzing complex molecular structures to dissecting the grammatical nuances of epic poetry. This intellectual versatility demonstrated that his scientific precision was not isolated to the laboratory, but was rather a manifestation of a broader, highly disciplined mind.

In the context of the passage, the word *faculty* most nearly means which of the following?

  1. A
    staff
  2. abilityAnswer
  3. C
    department
  4. D
    authorization

Answer

The word 'faculty' in the passage most nearly means 'ability', as it refers to Dr. Vance's natural aptitude or capacity for classical languages.
The correct answer is 'ability' because the passage describes Dr. Vance's personal skill and talent for translating classical languages, which aligns with the secondary definition of 'faculty' as a mental power or capability.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Locate the target word in the text and analyze the surrounding context.
The target word is found in the clause: 'he also possessed a remarkable faculty for classical languages, often spending his evenings translating obscure ancient Greek texts.'
This establishes that 'faculty' is a trait or capacity that enables Dr. Vance to perform translations.
2
Substitute the answer choices into the sentence to see which one maintains the logical flow and meaning of the context.
Substituting 'ability' yields: 'he also possessed a remarkable ability for classical languages,' which perfectly fits the passage's description of his bilingual skills.
This confirms the secondary meaning of 'faculty' as a power or capability of the mind.

Key Concept

Identifying the secondary meaning of common words based on specific context clues in a reading passage.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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