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Difficulty: MediumContextual Word Meaning and Vocabulary in Passages

Read the prose extract below carefully:

"Despite years of fierce political rivalry, the senator maintained a plastic stance throughout the constitutional negotiations, readily reshaping his positions to suit the shifting alliances of the assembly. Critics condemned this flexibility as opportunism, while supporters praised his pragmatic adaptability."

In the passage above, what is the contextual meaning of the word plastic?

  1. adaptable and malleableAnswer
  2. B
    artificial and synthetic
  3. C
    rigid and uncompromising
  4. D
    deceitful and dishonest

Answer

The contextual meaning of 'plastic' in the passage is 'adaptable and malleable'.
In the passage, the word 'plastic' describes a political stance that is easily reshaped and flexible, as reinforced by the subsequent terms 'flexibility' and 'adaptability'. Therefore, 'adaptable and malleable' is the correct contextual interpretation.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the sentence context around the word 'plastic'.
The target word describes a stance that involves 'readily reshaping his positions to suit shifting alliances'.
Contextual clues in the passage reveal how the word functions in context.
2
Examine surrounding supporting vocabulary.
Words like 'flexibility' and 'pragmatic adaptability' reinforce that 'plastic' means moldable or flexible.
Synonymous phrasing later in the text confirms the author's intended meaning.
3
Select the option that best expresses this contextual meaning.
'adaptable and malleable' accurately captures the meaning of flexibility and reshapeability.
It aligns directly with the passage's explanation of the senator's behavior.

Key Concept

Deriving word meaning from literary context rather than relying on literal or modern dictionary definitions.
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Contextual Word Meaning and Vocabulary in Passages

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