Set 7: Words in Context
Explanation
PASSAGE
The king's decree was absolute, brooking no dissent and treating any form of opposition as ______, punishable by immediate imprisonment.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
Detailed Answer Explanation
This question asks for the meaning of a word as used in this specific context. Opposition to a ruler is 'sedition'. Sedition is conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch. Words can have multiple meanings, and context determines which meaning applies. Read the surrounding sentences carefully. Substitute each answer choice to see which maintains the intended meaning and fits the context. Many vocabulary words have multiple dictionary definitions, but only one fits the context. Use the surrounding sentences as clues. Try substituting each answer choice to see which one preserves the author's intended meaning without changing the sentence's message.
Key Evidence:
• "punishable by imprisonment"
• "opposition"
Why others are wrong: D (Rhetoric implies speech, but not necessarily illegal.), A (Patriotic implies loyalty.), B (Compliance means following orders.).
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