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Difficulty: MediumVocabulary and Word Meaning in Context

Read the passage excerpt below carefully:

"Although the committee chairman listened attentively to the petitioners' grievances, he declared that the board could not entertain proposals that violated the statutory guidelines of the university."

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

  1. give serious consideration toAnswer
  2. B
    provide amusement or hospitality for
  3. C
    dismiss without formal review
  4. D
    amend to conform with regulations

Answer

give serious consideration to
In formal, legal, or administrative prose, the verb 'entertain' signifies receiving, considering, or giving thought to an idea, claim, or motion. In the sentence, the chairman explains that proposals breaching statutory rules cannot be considered by the board, making 'give serious consideration to' the accurate contextual rendering.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context in which 'entertain' appears within the passage.
The excerpt outlines a formal meeting where a governing board determines whether student or public submissions meet regulatory standards.
Understanding the register and situational context clarifies which semantic nuance of the polysemous word applies.
2
Test semantic substitution of options in place of 'entertain'.
The phrase 'could not give serious consideration to proposals' preserves the precise logical and grammatical structure of the sentence.
Substitutability ensures that the selected option aligns contextually without altering the author's intended message.

Key Concept

Contextual Word Meaning
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Topics

Vocabulary and Word Meaning in Context

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