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Question

Difficulty: EasySecondary and High-Frequency Alternative Meanings

Which word best completes the sentence below by fitting the context of a declining or weakening state?

Answer:Although the expedition began with immense optimism, the team's stamina began to 【flag】 as they trudged through the relentless blizzard.

Answer

The word 'flag' (or contextual synonyms such as 'falter' or 'wane') correctly completes the sentence, functioning as a verb that means to decline in vigor, tire, or become weak.
The correct response 'flag' is used here in its secondary verb sense, meaning to grow tired, weaken, or diminish in intensity. This accurately reflects how the severe conditions affected the team's stamina.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify contextual clues in the sentence
The concession word 'Although' contrasts the team's initial 'immense optimism' with the grueling effect of a 'relentless blizzard'.
Understanding structural contrast helps determine that the missing word must describe a decrease in energy or strength.
2
Apply the appropriate secondary word meaning
While 'flag' is most commonly known as a noun referring to a national banner, its secondary verb definition means to droop, tire, or decay in strength.
Using the secondary definition of 'flag' fits both the grammatical requirement (infinitive verb after 'began to') and the semantic context.

Key Concept

Secondary and High-Frequency Alternative Meanings of Common Words
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Topics

Secondary and High-Frequency Alternative Meanings

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