Question

Difficulty: EasyExample Context Clues

The warehouse supervisor instructed workers to keep combustible items, such as cardboard boxes, dry sawdust, and paper packaging, away from the heating units. As used in the sentence, what does combustible most nearly mean?

  1. Able to catch fire easilyAnswer
  2. B
    Completely fireproof
  3. C
    Eager to fight or argue
  4. D
    Extremely heavy and dense

Answer

Able to catch fire easily
The sentence introduces specific examples using the signal phrase 'such as': cardboard boxes, dry sawdust, and paper packaging. All of these items are materials that readily catch fire and burn, defining 'combustible' as able to catch fire easily.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Locate the example context clue signal within the sentence.
The signal phrase 'such as' introduces the examples 'cardboard boxes, dry sawdust, and paper packaging'.
Signal words like 'such as' introduce specific instances that illustrate the meaning of the target word.
2
Identify the shared characteristic among the provided examples.
Cardboard, sawdust, and paper packaging are all flammable materials that catch fire and burn quickly.
Finding the defining common feature of the listed examples reveals the definition of the target word.
3
Match this common trait to the correct option.
'Able to catch fire easily' directly matches the flammability shared by all the listed examples.
The correct definition must reflect what the context examples illustrate.

Key Concept

Using illustrative examples introduced by signal words like 'such as' to determine the meaning of an unfamiliar word in context.
Estimated Time:45s
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