Read the sentences below and evaluate the contextual clues provided in each scenario. Which definition correctly corresponds to each target word?
- Assiduous — "Through assiduous maintenance and continuous inspections every shift, the technicians prevented equipment failure."Diligent and attentive
- Circumspect — "Navigating the narrow channel required a circumspect approach, forcing the helmsman to double-check depth soundings at every buoy."Cautious and prudent
- Deleterious — "Prolonged exposure to chemical solvents had a deleterious impact on the rubber seals, causing them to degrade rapidly."Harmful and damaging
- Perfunctory — "Rather than conducting a thorough structural audit, the supervisor gave only a perfunctory glance at the scaffolding before signing off."Superficial and routine
Answer
Assiduous matches 'Diligent and attentive', Circumspect matches 'Cautious and prudent', Deleterious matches 'Harmful and damaging', and Perfunctory matches 'Superficial and routine'.
Each word is matched to its definition by analyzing syntactic and semantic clues: 'assiduous' relates to continuous diligence; 'circumspect' relates to careful navigation and double-checking; 'deleterious' relates to rapid degradation and damage; and 'perfunctory' is contrasted with a thorough audit to indicate superficiality.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Identifying contextual synonyms using contrast, elaboration, and cause-and-effect indicators
Estimated Time:1m 30s