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Question

Difficulty: HardSynonym Context Clues

The lead quality assurance inspector maintained a punctilious approach during the turbine overhaul, enforcing meticulous and scrupulous compliance with every technical specification. In this sentence, the word punctilious most nearly means which of the following?

  1. A
    negligent
  2. B
    punctual
  3. scrupulousAnswer
  4. D
    critical

Answer

The term 'scrupulous' is the correct synonym, meaning showing painstaking attention to details and exacting standards.
The sentence uses an explicit clarifying clause containing paired synonyms—'meticulous and scrupulous'—to define the inspector's approach. 'Punctilious' means showing great attention to detail, correct behavior, or exact procedures. Therefore, 'scrupulous' is the accurate contextual synonym.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Locate the target word and analyze the surrounding sentence structure for contextual clues.
The target word is 'punctilious', modifying the noun 'approach' in the context of a quality assurance turbine overhaul.
Identifying the target word's grammatical function establishes the necessary part of speech (adjective).
2
Extract the explicit paired synonym context clues within the sentence.
The phrase 'enforcing meticulous and scrupulous compliance with every technical specification' clarifies the exact nature of the approach.
The sentence provides direct parallel descriptor clues ('meticulous' and 'scrupulous') that define 'punctilious'.
3
Evaluate the answer choices to identify the term that aligns with 'meticulous' and 'exacting'.
The word 'scrupulous' directly shares the meaning of being diligent, thorough, and strictly attentive to details.
Matching the contextual definition allows elimination of antonyms, lookalikes, and contextual overreaches.

Key Concept

Identifying synonyms through explicit paired context clues
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Synonym Context Clues

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