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Difficulty: MediumExample Context Clues

The civil engineer selected impermeable barriers, such as dense clay liners, thick rubber geomembranes, and asphalt sheets, to prevent groundwater contamination. In this sentence, the underlined word impermeable most nearly means which of the following?

  1. A
    porous and allowing liquid absorption
  2. not allowing fluids to pass throughAnswer
  3. C
    imperceptible and impossible to detect
  4. D
    emotionally unaffected and unresponsive

Answer

not allowing fluids to pass through
The signal phrase 'such as' introduces specific examples of impermeable barriers: dense clay liners, thick rubber geomembranes, and asphalt sheets. Because these materials are used to block water and prevent contamination, 'impermeable' means not allowing fluids to pass through.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the signal phrase and example clues in the sentence.
The phrase 'such as' introduces the examples: 'dense clay liners, thick rubber geomembranes, and asphalt sheets.'
Signal phrases like 'such as' introduce concrete instances that illustrate the meaning of the target word.
2
Analyze the common property and intended function of the listed examples.
Clay, rubber membranes, and asphalt are used in construction to block liquids and prevent seepage into groundwater.
The shared physical function of the examples directly defines what makes a barrier 'impermeable'.
3
Select the definition that matches the deduced characteristic.
'Not allowing fluids to pass through' precisely captures the function of blocking liquid flow.
This meaning aligns directly with the requirement to prevent groundwater contamination.

Key Concept

Determining word meaning through illustrative example context clues
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Example Context Clues

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