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Difficulty: MediumFigurative Language and Figures of Speech in Context

Read the passage excerpt below:

"When the newly appointed managing director assumed office amidst widespread financial turbulence, he assured the board that the company was merely experiencing a temporary fever that a dose of stringent discipline would swiftly cure."

In the passage above, what does the figurative expression "a temporary fever" convey about the company's financial crisis?

  1. A
    an infectious disease spread by negligent staff members.
  2. a passing hardship that can be managed and resolved.Answer
  3. C
    a medical emergency requiring external health intervention.
  4. D
    a catastrophic breakdown that is completely irreversible.

Answer

The expression conveys that the company's financial crisis is a passing hardship that can be managed and resolved.
The correct answer accurately interprets the metaphorical comparison. By describing the financial turbulence as a 'temporary fever' that discipline can cure, the director expresses optimism that the hardship is brief and solvable through prudent management.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the figurative expression in the text.
The phrase is 'a temporary fever' paired with 'a dose of stringent discipline would swiftly cure'.
Understanding the context around the figure of speech is essential to determine its intended meaning.
2
Analyze the metaphor's tenor and vehicle.
The vehicle is a physical fever (short-term illness); the tenor is the company's financial difficulty.
Metaphors compare two unlike things to highlight shared attributes—here, transient disruption.
3
Deduce the contextual meaning.
Describing financial trouble as a 'temporary fever' means it is a brief, manageable ailment rather than a fatal flaw.
The word 'temporary' directly indicates that the hardship will pass with internal corrective discipline.

Key Concept

Understanding metaphorical meaning within passage context
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Topics

Figurative Language and Figures of Speech in Context

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