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Question

Difficulty: MediumCompound Words

Match each compound word on the left with the definition on the right that most accurately describes its meaning.

  • MakeshiftA temporary or improvised substitute used in place of standard equipment
  • ScapegoatA person or group made to bear the blame for the faults of others
  • BacklogAn accumulation of uncompleted tasks or pending obligations
  • ShortcomingA flaw, defect, or failure to meet a required standard

Answer

'Makeshift' matches with a temporary or improvised substitute; 'Scapegoat' matches with a person or group made to bear blame for others; 'Backlog' matches with an accumulation of uncompleted tasks; 'Shortcoming' matches with a flaw, defect, or failure to meet a standard.
Each compound word correctly aligns with its dictionary definition: 'makeshift' denotes a temporary expedient or substitute; 'scapegoat' denotes an entity singled out for unmerited blame; 'backlog' denotes a reservoir of unfulfilled duties; and 'shortcoming' denotes an imperfection or failure in meeting standards.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze each compound word by separating its root elements and identifying its idiomatic or lexicalized meaning.
Identified four compound nouns/adjectives: 'make-shift' (improvised), 'scape-goat' (bearer of blame), 'back-log' (accumulated tasks), and 'short-coming' (deficiency).
Compound words often have meanings that extend beyond the literal definitions of their constituent bases.
2
Evaluate the provided definition options to find the direct semantic match for each target term.
Matched 'Makeshift' to temporary substitute, 'Scapegoat' to blame-bearer, 'Backlog' to accumulated work, and 'Shortcoming' to a flaw or defect.
Matching each term directly to its precise definition avoids confusion with common structural or phonetic distractors.

Key Concept

Compound words are formed by combining two or more base words to create a new lexical item with a distinct, often figurative or specialized meaning.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Compound Words

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