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Question

Difficulty: MediumWord Precision and Clarity

In the passage below, consider the underlined word:

To calculate longitude at sea, eighteenth-century navigators needed a clock that could keep accurate time despite the constant motion of a ship. Traditional pendulum clocks were rendered useless by rolling ocean waves, which disrupted their delicate mechanisms. Watchmaker John Harrison devoted decades to engineering a solution, eventually creating a compact timepiece that could perpetuate precise timekeeping across months of ocean travel.

Which choice best completes the sentence with the most precise and contextually appropriate word?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. maintainAnswer
  3. C
    prolong
  4. D
    stretch

Answer

The choice 'maintain' is the most precise and contextually appropriate word.
The word 'maintain' accurately conveys the idea of keeping a system or measurement in a steady, accurate state over time, fitting both the context of mechanical timekeeping and the formal register of the passage.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the underlined word.
The sentence describes John Harrison's timepiece and its ability to consistently provide accurate time readings over long marine voyages.
Understanding the precise meaning intended by the author requires identifying what action the clock is performing relative to timekeeping.
2
Evaluate the original word 'perpetuate' and the alternatives for word precision.
'Perpetuate' refers to causing a status or idea to endure, 'prolong' refers to extending duration, and 'stretch' is informal. 'Maintain' specifically means to hold or preserve a standard of performance or accuracy.
ACT English tests vocabulary precision to ensure the chosen word fits the exact context and formal tone of the passage.

Key Concept

Word Precision and Clarity
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Topics

Word Precision and Clarity

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