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Question

Difficulty: EasyTone and Inference Clues

The base commander tempered his criticism of the team's failed drill by acknowledging the extremely harsh weather conditions they faced.

In the sentence above, what does the underlined word tempered most nearly mean?

  1. A
    hardened
  2. softenedAnswer
  3. C
    intensified
  4. D
    praised

Answer

The word 'tempered' most nearly means softened.
The correct option is 'softened'. The sentence establishes that while the commander delivered criticism, he intentionally moderated its severity by taking into account the harsh environmental conditions faced during the drill.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the sentence context and tone clues
The commander gives 'criticism' regarding a 'failed drill' but balances it 'by acknowledging the extremely harsh weather conditions.'
Identifying how contrasting clauses interact reveals the speaker's tonal attitude.
2
Infer the implied meaning of the target word
Acknowledging valid excuses serves to moderate or lessen the severity of a rebuke.
The tone shifts from pure reprimand to a fair, mitigated evaluation.
3
Select the option that matches the inferred meaning
'Softened' accurately captures the act of making a critique less harsh.
It aligns with the contextual moderation shown by the speaker.

Key Concept

Tone and Inference Clues in Context
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Tone and Inference Clues

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