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Difficulty: MediumVocabulary and Word Meaning in Context

The investigative panel observed that although the newly appointed director professed full transparency, he continued to harbour serious misgivings about the integrity of the audit process.

As used in the passage above, what is the contextual meaning of the word harbour?

  1. Hold or entertain secretlyAnswer
  2. B
    Provide shelter or anchorage for vessels
  3. C
    Dispel or dismiss completely
  4. D
    Announce or declare publicly

Answer

Hold or entertain secretly
The correct answer accurately reflects the contextual meaning of 'harbour' as used in relation to thoughts, feelings, or doubts. In the sentence, the director outwardly professes transparency while inwardly maintaining and holding onto private misgivings about the audit process.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context surrounding the target word
The sentence contrasts professing full transparency with continuing to 'harbour serious misgivings'.
The contrast word 'although' signals that the director's inner feelings differ from his outward profession of transparency.
2
Determine the contextual meaning of 'harbour' applied to 'misgivings'
'Harbour' when applied to feelings or thoughts means to cherish, hold, or entertain them internally.
Mental states like misgivings or doubts are held or entertained within the mind rather than sheltered physically.
3
Substitute candidate options into the sentence
'Hold or entertain secretly' fits both syntactically and semantically without altering sentence logic.
It preserves the intended contrast between public profession and private doubt.

Key Concept

Contextual Word Meaning (Figurative and Polysemous Usage)
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Topics

Vocabulary and Word Meaning in Context

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