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Difficulty: EasyIdentifying Antonym and Contrast Context Clues

While the older radio transmitter produced erratic signal transmissions that fluctuated without warning, the upgraded digital transceiver maintained a constant broadcast throughout the field exercise. Even during severe weather, communications personnel observed that the new equipment operated with steady reliability.

As used in the passage, what does the word "erratic" most nearly mean?

  1. A
    Steady and continuous
  2. Inconsistent and unpredictableAnswer
  3. C
    High-powered
  4. D
    Digital

Answer

Inconsistent and unpredictable
The sentence opens with the transition word 'While,' which sets up a direct contrast between the older transmitter and the upgraded unit. The upgraded unit is described as having a 'constant broadcast' and 'steady reliability.' Therefore, the older unit's 'erratic' transmissions must mean the opposite of constant and steady, which is 'inconsistent and unpredictable.'

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the contrast signal word and the contrasting concept in the passage.
The word 'While' introduces a contrast between the older transmitter's signal and the upgraded transceiver's 'constant broadcast' and 'steady reliability.'
Contrast indicators signal that the target word has a meaning opposite to the counterpart phrase provided in the comparison.
2
Determine the antonym of the contrasting clue to find the meaning of the target word.
The opposite of 'constant' and 'steady' is 'inconsistent and unpredictable.'
Because the two devices behave in opposite ways, the older transmitter's 'erratic' transmissions must be irregular and fluctuating.

Key Concept

Identifying Antonym and Contrast Context Clues
Estimated Time:45s
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Identifying Antonym and Contrast Context Clues

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