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Difficulty: EasyContext Clues for Synonyms

Because visibility was poor during the night patrol, the sentry had to remain vigilant at all times to spot potential threats. In this sentence, vigilant most nearly means:

  1. A
    careless
  2. B
    fearful
  3. watchfulAnswer
  4. D
    hidden

Answer

The word "vigilant" most nearly means "watchful."
In this sentence, the context clues "poor visibility" and "spot potential threats" show that the sentry needed to maintain continuous alertness and observation. Therefore, "watchful" is the most accurate synonym for "vigilant."

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the target word and analyze the surrounding context in the sentence.
The target word is "vigilant," describing the required posture of a sentry on night patrol under poor visibility.
Context clues surrounding the word provide semantic evidence of its intended meaning.
2
Examine the cause-and-effect and purpose clues provided in the sentence.
The phrase "to spot potential threats" indicates that the sentry must stay attentive, alert, and on guard.
The stated purpose directly clarifies the action and demeanor required.
3
Match the deduced meaning with the closest synonym among the options.
"Watchful" directly captures the meaning of being alert and observant.
"Watchful" is the precise contextual synonym for "vigilant."

Key Concept

Using context clues to determine the synonym of a word in a sentence
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Topics

Context Clues for Synonyms

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