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Question

Difficulty: HardMultiple-Meaning Words

Identify the single vocabulary word that appropriately completes both contextual meanings in the sentence below.

Answer:The senior diplomat maintained a calm, impassive 【countenance】 during the tense negotiations, even though her government refused to 【countenance】 any direct violation of the maritime treaty.

Answer

The word 'countenance' correctly completes both blanks, functioning first as a noun referring to facial composure or appearance, and second as a verb meaning to tolerate, endorse, or permit.
The polysemous term 'countenance' possesses two distinct formal definitions tested in advanced vocabulary assessments: as a noun denoting visual facial expression or calm demeanor, and as a verb meaning to tolerate, support, or permit. It is the only single word that fits both grammatical slots properly.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the syntactic role and contextual clues for the first blank.
The phrase 'calm, impassive [blank]' requires a noun describing physical demeanor, composure, or facial expression.
The adjectives 'calm' and 'impassive' modify the target noun in the context of personal appearance during diplomatic talks.
2
Analyze the syntactic role and contextual clues for the second blank.
The construction 'refused to [blank] any direct violation' requires a transitive verb meaning to tolerate, sanction, permit, or approve.
The infinitive marker 'to' followed by the direct object 'violation' establishes the requirement for a verb of permission or tolerance.
3
Identify the polysemous word that satisfies both distinct semantic and grammatical requirements.
The word 'countenance' operates as a noun meaning facial expression/appearance and as a verb meaning to tolerate or give approval to.
Only 'countenance' bridges both distinct formal senses without altering its base lexical form.

Key Concept

Identifying polysemous words that shift grammatical function (noun vs. verb) and meaning across distinct contexts.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Multiple-Meaning Words

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