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Difficulty: MediumVocabulary and Word Meaning in Context

In her inaugural address, the vice-chancellor declared that the administration would no longer harbour administrative laxity and financial opacity within its divisions. Based on the context of the sentence above, which of the following best captures the meaning of the word harbour?

  1. tolerateAnswer
  2. B
    shelter physically
  3. C
    investigate thoroughly
  4. D
    anchor permanently

Answer

The word harbour in this context means to tolerate or permit to exist.
In the passage, 'harbour' is used as a transitive verb meaning to entertain, permit, or tolerate undesirable conditions. Substituting the word 'tolerate' preserves the original meaning and tone without distortion.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the statement.
The vice-chancellor is expressing zero tolerance for negative qualities ('administrative laxity and financial opacity').
Surrounding words establish a negative moral and operational stance against these practices.
2
Determine the contextual meaning of 'harbour'.
When paired with abstract nouns like 'laxity', 'harbour' functions as a verb meaning to give room to, foster, or endure.
Words take on specific figurative senses depending on their direct objects.
3
Substitute options to test semantic fit.
Replacing 'harbour' with 'tolerate' yields: 'the administration would no longer tolerate administrative laxity...', which maintains the original meaning.
A correct contextual synonym must fit both grammatically and semantically into the original sentence.

Key Concept

Vocabulary and Word Meaning in Context
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Topics

Vocabulary and Word Meaning in Context

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