Question

Difficulty: MediumContext Clues for Synonyms

Until the permanent communications tower could be repaired after the storm, the logistics team set up a provisional relay station to maintain emergency broadcasts. In the sentence above, the word provisional most nearly means which of the following?

  1. A
    permanent
  2. temporaryAnswer
  3. C
    professional
  4. D
    defective

Answer

The word provisional most nearly means temporary.
In the provided sentence, the opening phrase 'Until the permanent communications tower could be repaired' sets up a clear temporal contrast. The relay station was established as a short-term solution while awaiting repairs, indicating that 'provisional' signifies an interim or temporary measure.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the sentence structure and identify the contextual contrast clue.
The clause 'Until the permanent communications tower could be repaired' establishes that the relay station is an interim measure used before a lasting fix.
Understanding the timeline and contrasting condition reveals how the relay station is intended to function.
2
Select the synonym that matches the interim, short-term nature of the station.
The word 'temporary' directly corresponds to an arrangement serving for a limited time until the permanent facility returns to service.
Substituting 'temporary' preserves the logical flow and intended meaning of the sentence.

Key Concept

Using contrast and temporal transition context clues to deduce word meaning
Estimated Time:45s
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