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Difficulty: MediumInferring Vocabulary and Idiomatic Expressions in Context

An investigative journalism report examining astronomical heritage preservation in Chile features the following passage:

«A pesar de las reiteradas advertencias de la comunidad científica sobre la progresiva degradación del cielo nocturno en el Valle de Elqui, las autoridades locales optaron por dar carpetazo a la propuesta de zonificación lumínica, postergando cualquier resolución vinculante para futuros períodos legislativos.»

Based on the excerpt, what is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase «dar carpetazo»?

  1. A
    To organize and compile administrative documents into official public binders
  2. To shelve or dismiss a proposal without reaching a definitive resolutionAnswer
  3. C
    To immediately approve and expedite the enactment of a regulatory bill
  4. D
    To permanently cancel scientific funding for astronomical research centers

Answer

To shelve or dismiss a proposal without reaching a definitive resolution
The correct answer accurately captures the figurative meaning of «dar carpetazo», which signifies shelving, dismissing, or indefinitely setting aside a topic without resolution. This meaning is corroborated by the subsequent phrase «postergando cualquier resolución vinculante».

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the syntactic and semantic context surrounding the target phrase
The text contrasts scientific warnings with the municipal response: the council chose to «dar carpetazo» to the lighting proposal, followed by the explanatory participle clause «postergando cualquier resolución vinculante» (postponing any binding resolution).
Contextual clues in journalistic writing often clarify idiomatic actions through adjacent modifying clauses.
2
Evaluate the idiomatic meaning of «dar carpetazo» against contextual clues
The idiom «dar carpetazo» figuratively refers to closing a file or tabling an issue indefinitely without resolving it, which aligns directly with the postponement described.
Recognizing the figurative usage prevents misinterpreting the root word 'carpeta' (file folder).

Key Concept

Inferring idiomatic expressions and colloquial verbs in formal journalistic context
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Inferring Vocabulary and Idiomatic Expressions in Context

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