Read each sentence below. Match each bolded target word on the left with its correct contextual synonym on the right.
- To handle the sudden surge in seasonal shipping orders, the logistics supervisor decided to augment the warehouse staff by hiring ten temporary technicians.Increase or expand
- Unlike his outspoken colleagues during the debriefing, Officer Davis remained reticent, speaking only when directly addressed.Quiet or reserved
- While downstream waters suffered heavy industrial pollution, the remote mountain spring remained in pristine condition, completely untouched by human activity.Unspoiled or immaculate
- Dense fog and fallen branches threatened to impede the supply convoy's movement along the narrow mountain pass.Hinder or obstruct
Answer
The target words match as follows: 'augment' matches 'Increase or expand', 'reticent' matches 'Quiet or reserved', 'pristine' matches 'Unspoiled or immaculate', and 'impede' matches 'Hinder or obstruct'.
Each sentence contains explicit contextual mechanisms that define the bolded words: adding workers defines 'augment' as increasing; contrasting with outspoken defines 'reticent' as reserved; contrasting with pollution defines 'pristine' as unspoiled; and weather obstacles define 'impede' as hindering.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Using context clue mechanisms (contrast, cause-effect, restatement) to determine precise synonyms.