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Difficulty: MediumIdentifying Antonym and Contrast Context Clues

Read the following excerpt from a hangar maintenance audit:

While the initial visual inspection of the airframe was remarkably meticulous, covering every rivet and hydraulic line with painstaking care, the subsequent check of the emergency survival kit was merely perfunctory. Technicians glanced briefly at the outer seals before signing off on the inventory log without opening the container.

As used in the passage, what is the meaning of the word "perfunctory"?

  1. A
    Thorough and deeply detailed
  2. Hasty and superficialAnswer
  3. C
    Related to emergency survival gear
  4. D
    Officially certified and functional

Answer

Hasty and superficial
The passage uses the contrast conjunction 'While' to contrast the airframe inspection, which was 'remarkably meticulous' and conducted with 'painstaking care', with the emergency kit check, which was 'merely perfunctory'. The detail that technicians 'glanced briefly' reinforces that 'perfunctory' means carried out with minimal effort, making 'Hasty and superficial' the correct answer.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the target word and surrounding transition signals.
The target word is 'perfunctory', introduced by the subordinating contrast conjunction 'While'.
Contrast signal words establish that two ideas or qualities in the sentence are opposites.
2
Analyze the contrasting counterpart and supporting context clues.
The airframe check is described as 'remarkably meticulous' and conducted with 'painstaking care', whereas technicians 'glanced briefly' at the seals without opening the kit.
The antonym of 'meticulous' combined with the action of glancing briefly indicates an action done with minimal effort or care.
3
Select the definition that matches the deduced contrast.
'Hasty and superficial' accurately conveys the opposite of 'meticulous' and fits the technicians' brief glance.
This directly satisfies the contrast relationship established by the passage.

Key Concept

Using contrast indicators such as 'while' to deduce the antonymous meaning of an unfamiliar word.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Identifying Antonym and Contrast Context Clues

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