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Difficulty: EasySecondary Meanings of Common Words

Although the committee had expressed deep reservations about the proposed urban redevelopment initiative, the lead architect remained optimistic. She argued that the integration of green spaces would revitalize the historic district, drawing tourists and boosting local commerce. However, the preservationists in the community worked tirelessly to check the rapid progress of the developers, claiming that the historical integrity of the neighborhood was at risk. They argued that once the old structures were demolished, the unique character of the area would be lost forever, regardless of how many parks were built in their place.

As used in the passage, which of the following is the closest meaning of the word 'check'?

  1. A
    inspect
  2. restrainAnswer
  3. C
    verify
  4. D
    halt

Answer

The correct answer is the option that defines the word as 'restrain'.
The correct answer is the option that defines the word as 'restrain' because in this context, the preservationists are trying to limit, curb, or hold back the rapid development, rather than examining it or stopping it completely.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Locate the target word 'check' in the passage and identify the surrounding sentence context.
The word appears in the sentence: 'the preservationists in the community worked tirelessly to check the rapid progress of the developers.'
Analyzing the immediate context is the first step to decoding secondary meanings.
2
Analyze the relationship between the subject (preservationists) and the object (progress of the developers).
The preservationists oppose the redevelopment because they fear losing the historical integrity of the neighborhood. Therefore, they want to limit, slow down, or curb the developers' progress.
Determining the logical connection between the actors in the sentence clarifies the intended meaning of the target word.
3
Evaluate the answer choices against this context, eliminating options that rely on the primary definition of the word.
The choices 'inspect' and 'verify' represent the primary dictionary meanings of 'check' and do not fit the context of slowing down development. The choice 'halt' is too extreme. The word 'restrain' correctly conveys the intended meaning of curbing or holding back.
Comparing candidates allows us to select the synonym that matches the author's specific usage in the text.

Key Concept

Secondary Meanings of Common Words
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Secondary Meanings of Common Words

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