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Question

Difficulty: HardFrequently Confused Words

The climatologist warned that a major rise in sea levels was eminent if carbon emissions were not drastically reduced over the next decade.

Which choice is the correct replacement for the underlined word?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. imminentAnswer
  3. C
    immanent
  4. D
    prominent

Answer

imminent
The correct answer is the word meaning 'about to happen' or 'impending' because the sentence refers to a future rise in sea levels that is threatened to occur soon if action is not taken. The word 'imminent' is the correct spelling for this meaning.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the sentence to determine the intended meaning of the underlined word.
The sentence describes a climatologist warning about a future rise in sea levels that will occur soon if carbon emissions are not reduced. The context requires a word meaning 'about to happen' or 'impending.'
Understanding the context establishes the semantic requirements of the target word.
2
Evaluate the definition of the underlined word to see if it is correct.
The underlined word 'eminent' means famous, respected, or distinguished. This does not make sense when describing a rise in sea levels, meaning a change is necessary.
This step determines whether the original phrasing is grammatically and semantically correct.
3
Compare the definitions of the alternatives to find the word that matches the required meaning.
The word 'imminent' directly translates to 'about to happen' or 'impending,' which fits the context. The other choices, 'immanent' (meaning inherent) and 'prominent' (meaning conspicuous or important), do not convey this temporal relationship.
This identifies the correct homophone based on precise definitions.

Key Concept

Distinguishing between similar-sounding words (homophones and near-homophones) such as eminent, imminent, and immanent to ensure semantic accuracy in context.
Estimated Time:45s
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Frequently Confused Words

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