Question

Difficulty: HardSynonym Context Clues

Read the technical safety log entry below. Based on the restatement context clue, which term correctly completes the sentence?

Answer:The maintenance supervisor warned that long-term contact with the cleaning solvent was 【deleterious】—a deleterious and harmful exposure that rapidly degraded protective synthetic seals.

Answer

deleterious (or an equivalent synonym such as harmful or detrimental)
The sentence utilizes a dash restatement clue where the phrase 'a deleterious and harmful exposure' explicitly defines the blank. The term 'deleterious' means causing harm or damage, which perfectly matches the clue and the observed degradation of the synthetic seals.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the punctuation and context clue marker in the sentence.
The dash introduces an appositive restatement that directly defines the missing word.
In technical writing and standardized tests, dashes frequently set off explanatory synonyms or definitions.
2
Analyze the descriptive terms within the clarifying phrase.
The phrase specifies 'a deleterious and harmful exposure that rapidly degraded protective synthetic seals.'
The paired adjectives indicate that the target concept relates directly to causing injury, damage, or degradation.
3
Select the appropriate vocabulary term that aligns with the context clue.
The word 'deleterious' (or synonyms like 'harmful' and 'detrimental') precisely fits both the grammatical requirement and semantic meaning.
Deleterious means causing harm or damage, matching the restatement provided after the dash.

Key Concept

Identifying restatement and paired synonym context clues to determine the meaning of an advanced vocabulary word in context.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Rate this question