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Question

Difficulty: HardSynonyms and Words Nearest in Meaning

In the report presented to the senate, the committee described the proposed economic policy as relying on specious reasoning that would fail under real market conditions. Which word is nearest in meaning to the underlined word?

  1. misleadingAnswer
  2. B
    genuine
  3. C
    spacious
  4. D
    exhaustive

Answer

The word nearest in meaning to 'specious' is 'misleading'.
The word 'specious' refers to claims or arguments that seem reasonable or true at first glance but are actually false or deceptive. Therefore, 'misleading' is the word nearest in meaning.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the target word 'specious' in its sentence context.
The clause 'that would fail under real market conditions' indicates that the reasoning only appears sound on the surface but is flawed underneath.
Contextual clues help establish the specific semantic nuance of the target word.
2
Define the target word 'specious'.
'Specious' means superficially plausible or attractive, but actually wrong, false, or deceptive.
Establishing the precise definition allows for accurate matching with option choices.
3
Compare options to find the closest synonym.
'Misleading' directly matches the deceptive quality of specious reasoning.
Selecting the option that preserves the sentence's contextual meaning.

Key Concept

Contextual Synonym Identification
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Topics

Synonyms and Words Nearest in Meaning

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