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Difficulty: MediumSecondary and High-Frequency Alternative Meanings

Read the following passage from a historical monograph:

"In her analysis of nineteenth-century Arctic expeditions, historian Clara Vance argues that early voyages failed not because of a deficiency in navigational expertise or courage, but due to a persistent want of specialized provisions suited to extreme polar conditions."

In the passage, the word "want" most nearly means which of the following?

  1. A
    desire
  2. scarcityAnswer
  3. C
    urgency
  4. D
    abundance
  5. E
    expectation

Answer

The word 'want' in this context most nearly means scarcity.
The word 'want' is used here in its secondary noun definition meaning 'lack, shortage, or absence.' The passage explicitly contrasts a lack of navigation skills with a 'want of specialized provisions,' establishing that a shortage of necessary supplies led to failure. Therefore, 'scarcity' is the correct meaning.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the sentence context surrounding the target word
The text states early voyages failed 'due to a persistent want of specialized provisions suited to extreme polar conditions.'
Context dictates whether a common word is being used in a primary or secondary sense.
2
Identify structural clues and parallel phrasing
The contrast 'not because of a deficiency in... but due to a persistent want of...' sets up 'want' as parallel in meaning to 'deficiency'.
Parallel structure indicates semantic equivalence between 'deficiency' and 'want'.
3
Match the contextual meaning with the correct secondary definition
'Scarcity' correctly captures the secondary definition of 'want' as a noun denoting lack or insufficiency.
Selecting 'scarcity' preserves the precise logical and grammatical meaning of the sentence.

Key Concept

Secondary Noun Definition of Common Vocabulary ('Want' as Lack/Scarcity)
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Topics

Secondary and High-Frequency Alternative Meanings

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