Question

Difficulty: MediumContext Clues for Synonyms

Based on the context clues provided in the sentence, which single-word synonym of the bolded term correctly completes the blank?

Answer:Before issuing official flight clearance, the chief inspector needed to scrutinize the landing gear assembly; she used specialized optical magnifying equipment to thoroughly 【inspect】 each hydraulic connection for hairline stress fractures.

Answer

inspect (or examine)
In the provided context, 'scrutinize' refers to looking over mechanical components carefully and thoroughly using specialized equipment to detect defects. Therefore, 'inspect' (or 'examine') is the precise synonym that correctly completes the sentence.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the bolded target word and review the surrounding context clues.
The target word is 'scrutinize'. The sentence details an inspector using specialized optical magnifying equipment to check hydraulic connections for hairline stress fractures before issuing safety clearance.
Contextual analysis requires determining the specific action being performed and the precision required by the situation.
2
Determine the meaning of the target word from the contextual indicators.
'Scrutinize' means to examine, inspect, or observe closely and critically with thorough attention to detail.
The mention of optical magnifying tools to detect hairline fractures indicates a detailed, close physical check.
3
Select an accurate synonym that grammatically fits into the blank.
The verb 'inspect' (or 'examine') maintains exact grammatical agreement as a base verb following the adverb 'thoroughly' and preserves the precise meaning of 'scrutinize'.
Replacing the target word with 'inspect' keeps the sentence's meaning and syntax intact.

Key Concept

Using surrounding context clues to determine the contextual synonym of a target vocabulary word.
Estimated Time:45s
Rate this question