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Difficulty: MediumVocabulary and Word Meaning in Context

In her critique of post-colonial literature, the scholar argued that attempts to sanitize historical narratives only serve to strip indigenous perspectives of their authentic complexity.

Based on the context of the passage, which of the following best expresses the meaning of the boldfaced word sanitize?

  1. alter by removing unpalatable or controversial detailsAnswer
  2. B
    clean thoroughly using chemical disinfectants
  3. C
    preserve in its original and unedited form
  4. D
    condemn publicly for ethical violations

Answer

The contextual meaning of 'sanitize' in the passage is to alter by removing unpalatable or controversial details.
In the given context, the word 'sanitize' is used figuratively to describe the act of removing unpleasant, controversial, or unacceptable details from historical accounts in order to make them appear more respectable or palatable. Thus, altering by removing unpalatable details is the precise contextual equivalent.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the surrounding context of the target word
The text discusses 'historical narratives' and how altering them strips 'authentic complexity'.
Context dictates whether a word is used literally or figuratively.
2
Determine the specific figurative sense of 'sanitize'
When applied to narratives, 'sanitize' means to purge objectionable or unpleasant content to make something seem more acceptable.
Literal definitions (like sterilizing or cleaning physically) do not apply to abstract historical accounts.
3
Evaluate the choices for syntactic and semantic fit
Substituting 'alter by removing unpalatable or controversial details' preserves the author's meaning seamlessly.
The correct answer must match both the tone and meaning of the original sentence.

Key Concept

Contextual Vocabulary Interpretation
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Topics

Vocabulary and Word Meaning in Context

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