Question

Difficulty: MediumMultiple-Meaning Words

After completing a rigorous inspection of the aircraft's fuselage, the maintenance officer confirmed that the frame was completely sound and cleared for flight. In this sentence, the word sound most nearly means which of the following?

  1. A
    audible
  2. sturdyAnswer
  3. C
    measured
  4. D
    fractured

Answer

The word sound most nearly means sturdy.
The sentence specifies that after a thorough inspection, the frame was approved and cleared for flight. In structural and mechanical contexts, the adjective 'sound' denotes an object that is robust, intact, structurally stable, and free from defect, which aligns precisely with 'sturdy.'

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the sentence context and surrounding clues
The target word describes an aircraft frame following a 'rigorous inspection' that resulted in being 'cleared for flight.'
Contextual clues indicate the condition of the frame is safe, undamaged, and structurally capable.
2
Evaluate the secondary and primary meanings of the polysemous word
While the target word commonly refers to noise or hearing (acoustic), its secondary adjective definition means solid, robust, or free from flaw or decay.
Polysemous words require selecting the definition that fits the specific syntax and domain of the sentence.
3
Match the contextual definition with the appropriate option
The meaning 'solid and undamaged' corresponds directly to 'sturdy.'
Substituting 'sturdy' into the sentence preserves the original meaning and logical flow.

Key Concept

Multiple-Meaning Words in Context
Estimated Time:45s
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