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Difficulty: MediumAnalyzing Multiple-Meaning Words

To contain the advancing wildfire, hotshot crews deployed controlled backburns along the ridge to check the flames before they reached residential property. By consuming dry timber ahead of the perimeter, this tactical burn successfully arrested the blaze's forward momentum.

As used in the passage, what does the word "check" most nearly mean?

  1. A
    inspect
  2. haltAnswer
  3. C
    consume
  4. D
    extinguish

Answer

The word "check" in this passage most nearly means to halt or stop.
In the passage, the crews act to 'contain' the wildfire and successfully 'arrested the blaze's forward momentum.' In this context, the verb 'check' means to hold back, slow down, or halt the advance of the flames.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the target word and analyze its surrounding syntax and context.
The target word "check" is used as a transitive verb with "the flames" as its direct object, within an effort to "contain the advancing wildfire."
Determining grammatical function and immediate surrounding context narrows down the possible meanings of a polysemous word.
2
Locate synonymous context clues in the subsequent sentence.
The phrase "arrested the blaze's forward momentum" directly restates the outcome of checking the flames.
Parallel context clues provide explicit definitions for multiple-meaning words in technical and descriptive passages.
3
Substitute the meaning into the sentence to confirm fit.
Replacing "check" with "halt" preserves the exact intended meaning of stopping the fire's forward progress.
Direct substitution confirms semantic equivalence without altering sentence logic.

Key Concept

Analyzing Multiple-Meaning Words in Context
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Analyzing Multiple-Meaning Words

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