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Difficulty: Very hardSecondary Meanings of Common Words

While most organic dyes of the Renaissance era degraded rapidly when exposed to environmental elements, the blue pigments extracted from lapis lazuli proved remarkably resilient. The colors in the central tapestry remained fast, defying centuries of exposure to harsh sunlight and fluctuating humidity in the drafty cathedral. Modern conservators studying the textile were astonished to find that the hue retained its original depth, showing none of the typical bleaching or fading associated with other tapestries of a similar age. This preservation suggests that the artisans employed advanced, proprietary techniques to bind the pigment to the fibers.

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

  1. fixedAnswer
  2. B
    rapid
  3. C
    vibrant
  4. D
    fleeting

Answer

fixed
The correct answer is 'fixed'. In the context of textiles and dyes, the word 'fast' refers to colors that are stable, permanent, and resistant to fading or running when exposed to light or moisture. This definition matches the description of the tapestry colors defying centuries of exposure to sunlight and humidity without bleaching.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the target word in the passage and analyze its immediate context.
The word 'fast' describes the colors in a central tapestry that has endured centuries of exposure to sunlight and humidity in a cathedral.
Understanding the surrounding context is necessary to determine the specific secondary meaning of a common word.
2
Analyze the clues in the sentence and the rest of the passage.
The passage states that the tapestry defied 'centuries of exposure' and showed 'none of the typical bleaching or fading.' This indicates the colors remained stable, permanent, or resistant to fading.
Contextual clues reveal the functional definition of the target word.
3
Evaluate the answer choices to find the word that best substitutes for 'fast' in this context.
The word 'fixed' refers to colors or dyes that are permanent and resistant to fading, which perfectly matches the context. 'Rapid' is the primary meaning of 'fast' but does not make sense here. 'Vibrant' describes the appearance of the color rather than its resistance to fading. 'Fleeting' is the opposite of what the context describes.
Comparing choices based on semantic substitution ensures the correct secondary meaning is chosen.

Key Concept

Determining the secondary meaning of a common word based on contextual clues.
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Secondary Meanings of Common Words

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