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Difficulty: MediumVocabulary and Word Meaning in Context

Read the excerpt below carefully:

"When the parliamentary committee requested the disclosure of internal emails, the minister attempted to hedge by giving evasive answers and focusing entirely on procedural formalities rather than addressing the core allegations."

In the passage above, what is the contextual meaning of the word hedge?

  1. A
    enclose a garden boundary with shrubs
  2. B
    mitigate potential financial loss through investment
  3. speak evasively to avoid a direct commitmentAnswer
  4. D
    concede guilt regarding the core allegations

Answer

The word 'hedge' in this context means to speak evasively to avoid making a direct commitment.
In the passage, the word 'hedge' is explained directly by the modifying phrase that follows it: 'by giving evasive answers and focusing entirely on procedural formalities'. Thus, the correct interpretation is speaking evasively to avoid a direct commitment.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the passage context surrounding the target word
The text states that the minister attempted to hedge 'by giving evasive answers and focusing entirely on procedural formalities'.
Contextual clues immediately following the target word define the specific action being taken.
2
Evaluate the meaning of the action described
Giving evasive answers to deflect core questions is the definition of verbal equivocation or hedging.
The context rules out physical objects, financial strategies, or admission of guilt.
3
Select the option that matches this contextual interpretation
The option stating 'speak evasively to avoid a direct commitment' fits both syntactically and semantically.
Substituting this phrase into the sentence preserves the original meaning seamlessly.

Key Concept

Contextual Word Meaning (Equivocation vs. Dictionary/Register Meanings)
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Topics

Vocabulary and Word Meaning in Context

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