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Question

Difficulty: EasySecondary Meanings and Polysemy

Despite initial enthusiasm for the rapid expansion of the municipal power grid, city regulators stepped in to __________ further development until comprehensive environmental assessments could be finalized. Which of the following words logically complete the sentence?

  1. A
    inspect
  2. checkAnswer
  3. stemAnswer
  4. D
    cultivate
  5. E
    plant

Answer

The correct selections are the options corresponding to 'check' and 'stem'.
The sentence contrast signal ('Despite initial enthusiasm...') requires a word meaning to slow down, halt, or restrain development. Both 'check' and 'stem' share secondary definitions that mean to restrain or arrest progress, making both choices contextually and semantically appropriate.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the sentence structure and logical signals
The sentence begins with the concession signal 'Despite initial enthusiasm', indicating a reversal in tone. The regulators' action must contrast with rapid expansion.
Identifying the structural signal clarifies that the required word must mean to limit, halt, or restrain growth.
2
Evaluate candidate words for secondary meanings fitting the context
Both 'check' (meaning to restrain or arrest progress) and 'stem' (meaning to stop or hold back growth) fit the requirement precisely.
Polysemous words often have obscure secondary meanings that fulfill specific contextual demands on the GRE.
3
Eliminate distractors based on primary definition traps
'Inspect' uses a primary definition trap of 'check', while 'plant' uses a primary definition trap of 'stem'. 'Cultivate' creates a logical contradiction.
Distractor analysis ensures that options relying solely on colloquial or irrelevant primary definitions are rejected.

Key Concept

Secondary Meanings of Polysemous Words
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Topics

Secondary Meanings and Polysemy

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