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Difficulty: MediumSynonym Context Clues

The lead hydrologist noted that the earthen levee was in a precarious condition, an unstable and hazardous state that could easily give way under rising floodwaters. Which of the following is the closest synonym for the underlined word as used in this context?

  1. A
    secure
  2. B
    precious
  3. unstableAnswer
  4. D
    cautious

Answer

unstable
The sentence embeds an explicit restatement clue by describing the levee as existing in 'an unstable and hazardous state.' This directly establishes that 'precarious' means lacking stability, security, or balance, making 'unstable' the correct synonym.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the target word and examine the sentence for surrounding context clues.
The appositive phrase 'an unstable and hazardous state' immediately follows and clarifies the word 'precarious'.
Appositives set off by commas frequently provide direct definitions or paired synonyms for unfamiliar terms.
2
Evaluate the answer choices to identify the term that best matches the meaning provided in the clue.
The word 'unstable' directly matches the definition of something at risk of falling or failing.
A valid synonym must preserve the same grammatical category and semantic meaning established by the context.

Key Concept

Identifying synonyms through appositive and restatement context clues
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Synonym Context Clues

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