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Difficulty: MediumSynonyms and Words Nearest in Meaning

The chairman criticized the committee's ephemeral interest in the reform policy, noting that their enthusiasm faded as soon as challenges arose. Which word is nearest in meaning to the underlined word as used in the sentence?

  1. fleetingAnswer
  2. B
    enduring
  3. C
    superficial
  4. D
    profound

Answer

fleeting
The word 'ephemeral' describes something that lasts for a very short time. In the given sentence, the phrase 'their enthusiasm faded as soon as challenges arose' provides a clear contextual clue that the interest was brief. Therefore, 'fleeting' is the word nearest in meaning.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the sentence
The sentence indicates that the committee's enthusiasm 'faded as soon as challenges arose', showing their interest was short-lived.
Contextual clues clarify the specific sense in which the target word is being used.
2
Determine the meaning of the underlined word 'ephemeral'
'Ephemeral' refers to something transitory, momentary, or lasting for a very short duration.
Matching the definition with contextual clues narrows down the exact synonym.
3
Evaluate the options against the target meaning
'Fleeting' directly conveys the meaning of lasting a very short time.
'Fleeting' is the accurate word nearest in meaning to 'ephemeral' in this scenario.

Key Concept

Contextual Synonyms in Lexis and Vocabulary
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Topics

Synonyms and Words Nearest in Meaning

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