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Difficulty: EasyContextual Word Meaning and Vocabulary in Passages

Read the passage excerpt below carefully:

"During the parliamentary debate, the minister delivered an acidic response to his critics, leaving the chamber in awkward silence as his sharp words cut through their complacency."

Which of the following best captures the contextual meaning of the word acidic as used in the passage?

  1. sharp and bitingAnswer
  2. B
    sour in taste
  3. C
    gentle and agreeable
  4. D
    confused and uncertain

Answer

The word 'acidic' contextually means sharp and biting.
The correct option is 'sharp and biting' because the passage explicitly describes the minister's response as consisting of 'sharp words' that cut through complacency, indicating a caustic and critical tone.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Examine the context clues surrounding the target word in the passage.
The target word 'acidic' describes a 'response' that resulted in 'awkward silence' because 'his sharp words cut through their complacency'.
Contextual meaning must be derived from surrounding descriptive clues rather than dictionary definitions alone.
2
Evaluate the figurative usage of the word.
The modifier 'sharp words' directly reinforces that 'acidic' refers to a caustic, cutting, or biting tone of speech.
Words describing physical properties (like acid or sharpness) are frequently used metaphorically in literary passages to indicate tone or mood.
3
Select the option that reflects this figurative meaning and reject literal distractors.
The option defining the word as 'sharp and biting' accurately reflects the minister's caustic tone.
Literal definitions such as physical taste misread the literary usage in the excerpt.

Key Concept

Contextual Word Meaning in Unseen Passages
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Topics

Contextual Word Meaning and Vocabulary in Passages

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