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Question

Difficulty: MediumSecondary Meanings and Polysemy

Although the leadership of the non-profit organization publicly maintained an impression of harmonious unity, newly released internal memos reveal that the governing board was actually __________ by fierce disputes regarding the allocation of endowments. Which of the following words best completes the sentence?

  1. rentAnswer
  2. B
    leased
  3. C
    consolidated
  4. D
    obscured
  5. E
    vindicated

Answer

The correct answer is 'rent', which in this context means split or torn apart by internal conflict.
The word 'rent' relies on its secondary definition as the past participle of 'rend', meaning split, torn, or divided by conflict. This creates a precise contrast with the public appearance of 'harmonious unity'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the structural signals and sentence polarity.
The concessive clause opens with 'Although', creating a contrast between the public front ('harmonious unity') and the private reality ('fierce disputes').
The blank must describe what happened to the governing board as a result of disputes, requiring a word signifying division or fracture.
2
Evaluate the vocabulary options for contextual fit and polysemy.
'Rent' serves as the past participle of the verb 'rend' (to tear or split violently), matching the context of a group fractured by strife.
While 'rent' is commonly encountered as a noun or verb related to leasing property, its secondary literary meaning as the past participle of 'rend' provides the exact semantic fit required.

Key Concept

Secondary Meanings and Polysemy
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Topics

Secondary Meanings and Polysemy

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