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Question

Difficulty: MediumContext Clues for Synonyms

Unlike the lavishly decorated administrative offices at headquarters, the remote operating outpost was strictly austere, containing only bare concrete walls and basic field gear. In this sentence, the word austere most nearly means which of the following?

  1. A
    severe
  2. plainAnswer
  3. C
    ornate
  4. D
    secluded

Answer

plain
The word 'plain' is the correct synonym because the sentence contrasts the outpost with 'lavishly decorated' offices and describes it as having 'bare concrete walls and basic field gear.' In this context, austere means unadorned and simple.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the contrast clue in the sentence structure.
The opening dependent clause 'Unlike the lavishly decorated administrative offices' sets up an antonym relationship with 'austere'.
The contrast transition 'Unlike' signals that the target word describes the opposite of lavish ornamentation.
2
Analyze the descriptive context following the target word.
The phrase 'containing only bare concrete walls and basic field gear' provides direct context describing an unadorned physical environment.
Syntactic elaboration confirms that 'austere' in this setting refers to physical simplicity and lack of luxury.
3
Match the contextual clues to the appropriate synonym.
The word 'plain' precisely means simple, unadorned, and without decoration.
The word 'plain' satisfies both the contrast with lavishness and the definition provided by the bare walls.

Key Concept

Using contrast markers and descriptive restatements as context clues to determine word meaning
Estimated Time:45s
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Context Clues for Synonyms

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