Despite the lively atmosphere of the victory celebration, the captain remained exceptional… — JAMB UTME

Despite the lively atmosphere of the victory celebration, the captain remained exceptionally taciturn throughout the evening. Which word is nearest in meaning to the underlined word?

A
talkative
reservedAnswer
C
hostile
D
solemn

Answer

reserved

The word 'taciturn' describes someone who is naturally reserved, quiet, or inclined to speak very little. In the given context, 'reserved' is the choice nearest in meaning.

Step-by-Step Solution

Examine the sentence context for clue words.

The phrase 'lively atmosphere' contrasts with the captain being quiet and saying very little during the evening.

Contextual clues establish the behavioral meaning of the target word in context.

Define the target word 'taciturn'.

'Taciturn' refers to a person who is habitually reserved, reticent, or uncommunicative in speech.

Establishing the precise lexical definition enables matching with options.

Identify the closest synonym among the choices.

'Reserved' directly captures the meaning of being quiet and untalkative.

'Reserved' is the word nearest in meaning to 'taciturn'.

Key Concept

Contextual Vocabulary and Synonyms

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