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Difficulty: HardSecondary Meanings of Common Words

The architect’s latest design for the municipal library was initially met with skepticism by the city council, who feared its avant-garde facade would clash with the surrounding historic brownstones. However, as the lead planner explained how the building’s modular walls and moveable partitions could be adjusted to accommodate future community programs, the committee began to appreciate the plastic nature of the blueprint. Far from being a static monument, the structure was designed to evolve alongside the neighborhood's shifting demographic needs.

As it is used in the passage, the word *plastic* most nearly means:

  1. A
    synthetic
  2. adaptableAnswer
  3. C
    artificial
  4. D
    inexpensive

Answer

adaptable
In the context of the passage, the word 'plastic' describes a blueprint that is flexible, adjustable, and designed to evolve over time. Thus, the option stating 'adaptable' represents the correct secondary meaning.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Locate the target word in the passage.
The word 'plastic' appears in the phrase describing 'the plastic nature of the blueprint.'
Identifying the target word's exact position allows analysis of its immediate grammatical and thematic surroundings.
2
Analyze context clues immediately surrounding the target word.
The text explains that the building has 'modular walls and moveable partitions' that 'could be adjusted' to accommodate 'future community programs' and 'evolve.'
Context clues clarify how the word is functioning in this specific passage, pointing to its intended meaning.
3
Determine the secondary meaning of the target word that fits the context.
Since the design can be adjusted, configured, and evolved, 'plastic' is used in its secondary sense to mean malleable, flexible, or capable of being modified.
Distinguishing the context-specific meaning from the word's primary meaning is essential for finding the correct answer.
4
Evaluate the answer choices against the determined meaning.
The choice meaning flexible or adjustable is the only one that matches the passage's context.
This step eliminates distractors and confirms the correct option.

Key Concept

Secondary Meanings of Common Words
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Secondary Meanings of Common Words

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