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Question

Difficulty: EasyWords in Context: High-Utility Vocabulary

Although many ancient Roman wooden structures have decayed over the centuries, some buried deep in oxygen-poor mud have survived remarkably well. Archaeologists studying these waterlogged remains find that the lack of oxygen has helped to ______ the wood, preventing the growth of fungi that would normally cause it to rot.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

  1. A
    alter
  2. B
    expose
  3. preserveAnswer
  4. D
    discard

Answer

preserve
The correct word is 'preserve'. The passage notes that while ancient wooden structures typically decay over time, those buried in oxygen-poor mud have 'survived remarkably well' because the environment prevents the growth of rot-causing fungi. 'Preserve' means to keep safe from decay or maintain in its original state, which precisely fits the context of wood surviving and being protected from rotting.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the sentence to determine the relationship between the blank and the surrounding information.
The sentence notes that wood normally decays over time, but wood in oxygen-poor mud has 'survived remarkably well' because the lack of oxygen prevents fungal growth and rot.
This establishes that the missing word must describe a process of keeping the wood intact or protecting it from decay.
2
Evaluate the given choices to find the word that best fits the meaning of protecting wood from decay.
'preserve' is the only word that means to keep safe from decay or protect, whereas the other options contradict the context or make no sense.
This confirms the correct choice that logically and precisely completes the text.

Key Concept

Words in Context: High-Utility Vocabulary
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Topics

Words in Context: High-Utility Vocabulary

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