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Question

Difficulty: MediumTone and Inference Clues

Although the junior technician presented a facile solution to the generator failure, the chief engineer dismissed the proposal for oversimplifying a complex mechanical breakdown.

In the sentence, what is the meaning of the underlined word facile?

  1. A
    effortlessly easy
  2. superficially simpleAnswer
  3. C
    thoroughly complex
  4. D
    deliberately dishonest

Answer

superficially simple
The context provides direct clues through the phrase 'oversimplifying a complex mechanical breakdown' and the dismissive action of the engineer. These clues indicate that the solution was treated critically as superficial and lacking thoroughness, making 'superficially simple' the correct contextual meaning.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the sentence context and tone clues surrounding the underlined word
The chief engineer 'dismissed the proposal' because it was 'oversimplifying a complex mechanical breakdown.'
The contrasting transition word 'Although' and the phrase 'oversimplifying a complex mechanical breakdown' establish a critical tone toward the proposed solution.
2
Deduce the contextual meaning of the target word based on these clues
In this context, the word means appearing neat or easy on the surface while ignoring genuine complexity.
When applied critically to an analysis or solution, 'facile' denotes superficial simplicity rather than true competence.
3
Match the inferred meaning to the corresponding answer choice
The option 'superficially simple' accurately captures this meaning.
It maintains the exact negative connotation and part of speech required by the context.

Key Concept

Inferring nuanced word meaning through tone and contextual criticism clues
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Tone and Inference Clues

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