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Question

Difficulty: HardSynonym Context Clues

During maritime field trials, the lead technician reported that the dense sea spray was inimical—actively hostile and damaging to the exposed optic sensors. In this context, what does the word inimical most nearly mean?

  1. A
    beneficial
  2. hostileAnswer
  3. C
    imitative
  4. D
    critical

Answer

hostile
The correct answer is 'hostile'. In the sentence, the em-dash sets off an explicit definition and restatement clue ('actively hostile and damaging'), defining 'inimical' as adverse, unfavorable, or harmful.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Locate the target word and identify surrounding punctuation or structural clues.
The target word 'inimical' is followed immediately by an em-dash (—) setting off the phrase 'actively hostile and damaging'.
Dashes frequently signal an explicit restatement or definition context clue.
2
Match the restatement clue to the closest available answer choice.
The word 'hostile' directly mirrors 'actively hostile and damaging'.
Synonym context clues provide an exact or near-exact parallel meaning within the same sentence.

Key Concept

Identifying Synonym Context Clues via Punctuation and Restatement
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Synonym Context Clues

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