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Difficulty: EasyContext Clues for Synonyms

The emergency supply cache became sparse after weeks without deliveries, leaving only a few scattered rations on the shelves.

In this context, sparse most nearly means which of the following?

  1. A
    spacious
  2. scarceAnswer
  3. C
    abundant
  4. D
    spoiled

Answer

scarce
The word 'scarce' is correct because the context explicitly clarifies that the supply cache had dwindled to 'only a few scattered rations,' indicating an inadequate or thinly spread amount.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the contextual clues in the sentence surrounding the bolded word.
The phrase 'leaving only a few scattered rations on the shelves' serves as a direct definition and elaboration of the condition described by the word 'sparse'.
Examining explanatory clauses in the sentence clarifies the specific intended meaning of the target word.
2
Compare the options against the identified meaning of limited or thinly distributed quantity.
'Scarce' precisely conveys the concept of low quantity and scattered availability.
Synonym selection requires matching the semantic meaning and grammatical role indicated by the surrounding text.

Key Concept

Context Clues for Synonyms
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Context Clues for Synonyms

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