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Question

Difficulty: EasySecondary Meanings of Common Words

From a young age, Julian exhibited a distinct bent for the natural sciences. While his peers spent their afternoons playing standard video games, Julian could be found in the backyard cataloging local insect species or meticulously observing the lifecycle of common garden snails. His parents, quickly recognizing this early propensity, did their best to encourage his curiosity by purchasing introductory books on biology and chemistry. This intense childhood fascination eventually guided Julian to pursue a lifetime career in environmental research, where he applied his sharp analytical skills to solve complex ecological problems.

As it is used in the passage, what does the word 'bent' most nearly mean?

  1. A
    curve
  2. B
    dislike
  3. inclinationAnswer
  4. D
    weakness

Answer

inclination
The correct answer is 'inclination' because the passage describes Julian's early interest and active engagement in scientific activities, representing a natural tendency or talent. In this context, a 'bent' is a synonym for 'inclination' or 'propensity.'

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the sentence in which the target word appears.
The sentence is: 'From a young age, Julian exhibited a distinct bent for the natural sciences.'
This establishes the context where 'bent' acts as a noun describing Julian's relationship to the natural sciences.
2
Examine the surrounding context clues to determine the word's connotation and meaning.
The passage describes Julian cataloging insects, observing snails, having his curiosity encouraged by parents, and pursuing a career in research using his 'sharp analytical skills.' This shows a strong positive preference, talent, or natural tendency.
Identifying these clues helps clarify that the target word must mean a natural interest or talent.
3
Substitute the options into the sentence to see which one maintains the author's intended meaning.
'Julian exhibited a distinct inclination for the natural sciences' fits the context perfectly.
Evaluating synonyms in context guarantees selecting the option that best mirrors the author's meaning.

Key Concept

Identifying the secondary meaning of a common word using context clues
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Secondary Meanings of Common Words

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