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Difficulty: MediumExample Context Clues

The remote military outpost maintained austere living quarters, such as unheated metal barracks, bare concrete floors, and simple wooden cots.

In the sentence above, what does the underlined word austere most nearly mean?

  1. A
    Luxurious and ornate
  2. B
    Astute and perceptive
  3. Plain and without comfortsAnswer
  4. D
    Strict and stern in demeanor

Answer

Plain and without comforts
The signal phrase 'such as' introduces specific examples of the quarters: unheated metal barracks, bare concrete floors, and simple wooden cots. These items describe an environment that is basic, simple, and devoid of luxury, making 'Plain and without comforts' the correct contextual definition.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Locate the target word and the example clue signal phrase in the sentence.
The target word 'austere' is followed immediately by the signal phrase 'such as'.
Signal words like 'such as' introduce concrete examples that clarify the meaning of the preceding word.
2
Analyze the common traits shared by the illustrative examples.
The examples—unheated metal barracks, bare concrete floors, and simple wooden cots—all depict extremely basic, bare-bones, and comfortless living conditions.
Identifying the shared physical properties of the examples reveals the contextual definition of 'austere'.
3
Select the option that matches the contextual meaning determined from the examples.
'Plain and without comforts' accurately captures the unadorned, minimalist state of the living quarters.
The correct synonym must reflect the specific contextual meaning established by the illustrative details.

Key Concept

Using example context clues to deduce the meaning of an unfamiliar word in a sentence.
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Example Context Clues

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