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Question

Difficulty: MediumIdentifying Synonymous Context Clues

Read the passage below and complete the statement that follows. Based on the synonymous context clue provided in the text, which word or phrase directly defines the target term?

Answer:During deep-water salvage operations inside the sunken vessel's flooded cargo hold, specialized divers encountered turbid water—that is, cloudy and sediment-laden liquid—which drastically reduced visibility. Because standard floodlights were rendered useless by the suspended silt, the dive supervisor instructed the team to rely exclusively on tactile acoustic beacons to navigate the compartment safely.

Based on the text, the word "turbid" most nearly means 【cloudy】.

Answer

cloudy (or sediment-laden)
The author provides a direct synonymous context clue set off by em dashes immediately following the target word ('—that is, cloudy and sediment-laden liquid—'). The transitional phrase 'that is' explicitly signals a clarifying restatement, confirming that 'turbid' means cloudy or filled with sediment.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Locate the target word 'turbid' within the first sentence of the passage.
The target word appears in the phrase: 'encountered turbid water—that is, cloudy and sediment-laden liquid—which drastically reduced visibility.'
Identifying the target word's immediate syntactic context is the necessary first step to finding any adjacent structural clues.
2
Identify the structural context clue punctuation and indicator phrase surrounding the target word.
The author uses em dashes containing the restatement signal 'that is' followed immediately by 'cloudy and sediment-laden liquid.'
Phrases set off by dashes and introduced by 'that is' function as appositive definitions or synonymous restatements of the preceding noun or adjective.
3
Extract the synonym to complete the definition statement.
'Cloudy' or 'sediment-laden' accurately defines 'turbid' according to the passage.
The direct restatement provides the exact textual meaning required without relying on external assumptions.

Key Concept

Identifying Synonymous Context Clues
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Identifying Synonymous Context Clues

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