Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumInferring Vocabulary and Idiomatic Expressions in Context

In a journalistic article discussing political reforms, the author writes:

'The new administration pretends to reduce the fiscal deficit by implementing stricter tax regulations next year.'

Based on the context of this passage, what is the meaning of the word 'pretends'?

  1. intendsAnswer
  2. B
    feigns
  3. C
    hopes
  4. D
    proves

Answer

intends
The correct answer is 'intends' because the word 'pretends' in this context is a translation of the Spanish false friend 'pretender,' which means to aim, intend, or plan to do something. The context of an administration introducing new regulations next year to reduce a deficit denotes a clear policy goal and intention rather than make-believe behavior.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the sentence containing the word 'pretends'.
The sentence outlines a planned policy action ('to reduce the fiscal deficit') paired with a specific method ('implementing stricter tax regulations') to be carried out in the future ('next year').
Understanding the context helps determine if the word describes a plan, a deception, a hope, or an achievement.
2
Identify the false cognate relationship with Spanish.
The English sentence is a literal translation of the Spanish verb 'pretender,' which looks like 'pretend' but actually means 'to intend' or 'to plan.'
Recognizing false friends prevents falling for literal translation traps common in Spanish-to-English contextual readings.
3
Evaluate the choices against the context and cognate analysis.
'intends' perfectly fits the meaning of 'pretender' and the context of a future administrative plan, whereas 'feigns' is a false cognate, and 'hopes' and 'proves' do not match the level of intent or timeline described.
This confirms the correct option based on semantic alignment.

Key Concept

Inferring Vocabulary and Idiomatic Expressions in Context
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Rate this question

Topics

Inferring Vocabulary and Idiomatic Expressions in Context

More questions from this topic