Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. The International Monetary Fund ( IMF) Executive Board approved on September 30 a new, temporary Food Shock Window (FSW) under its emergency financing instruments (Rapid Credit Facility-RCF/Rapid Financing Instrument-RFI). A combination of climate shocks and the pandemic has disrupted food production and distribution, driving (A) the cost of feeding people and families. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has pushed the price of food and fertilizers even higher and exacerbated the shortages in food supplies—hurting food importers and some exporters alike. The Food Shock Window will provide, for a period of a year, a new channel for emergency Fund financing to member countries that have an urgent balance of payment needs due to acute food insecurity, a sharp increase in their food import bill, or a shock to their cereal exports. Access will be consistent with the actual balance of payments needs, capped at 50 percent of the quota, and will be added to the current annual access limits under the RCF/RFI. The cumulative access limits under the RFI regular window and the RCF exogenous shock window, currently at 150 percent of quota, will be increased to 175 percent of quota for members that will borrow through the FSW. A review is planned for the end of June 2023. The Executive Board also amended the policy for Staff-Monitored Programs (SMPs), to allow for Program Monitoring with Board involvement (PMB). The Executive Board’s role will be limited to assessing the robustness of the member’s policies to meet the program’s objectives and to monitoring program implementation, including policies aiming to facilitate the transition to an upper credit tranche (UCT) quality IMF-supported program. Countries considering an SMP would be encouraged to request a PMB if they are the subject of an ongoing concerted international effort by creditors or donors to provide substantial new financing or debt relief, or have significant outstanding Fund credit under emergency financing instruments. The PMB will be reviewed before the end of September 2023.
Choose the word which is most nearly the same in meaning of the word ' pushed '.
drive
This question asks us to identify the word from the given options that has the closest meaning to the word 'pushed' as used in the provided passage about the IMF's Food Shock Window.
Understanding 'Pushed' in the IMF Passage
Let's first examine the sentence where 'pushed' appears: "Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has pushed the price of food and fertilizers even higher and exacerbated the shortages in food supplies—hurting food importers and some exporters alike."
In this context, 'pushed' describes the effect of Russia's invasion on the prices of food and fertilizers. It means that the invasion caused these prices to become higher or increased them significantly. It implies a forceful action leading to an upward trend in prices.
Analyzing the Options for the Best Synonym
We need to find the option that best matches this meaning of causing an increase or moving something to a higher level.
- Option 1: increase
This word means to become or make greater in size, amount, or degree. While the invasion caused an increase, 'increase' itself is the result rather than the action of causing it. It's a close synonym but might not capture the active force implied by 'pushed'. - Option 2: drive
The word 'drive' can mean to cause something to happen or to develop in a particular way. In economic contexts, phrases like "driving prices up" are common, meaning causing prices to rise. The passage itself uses the word 'driving' earlier: "driving (A) the cost of feeding people and families." This suggests 'drive' is used to explain causes of rising costs. Therefore, 'drive' fits the meaning of actively causing prices to become higher, similar to 'pushed'. - Option 3: insolent
This word means showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect. This has no relation to the meaning of 'pushed' in the passage. - Option 4: throes
This refers to a painful or laborious effort. This meaning is unrelated to the context of prices and the invasion. - Option 5: sobriquet
This means a nickname. This is completely irrelevant to the meaning of 'pushed' here.
Conclusion on the Best Synonym
Comparing 'increase' and 'drive', 'drive' better reflects the active causation implied by 'pushed' in the sentence. An invasion actively makes prices go higher; it 'drives' them up. The earlier usage of 'driving' in the passage further supports 'drive' as a fitting synonym for conveying cause-and-effect in economic situations like rising costs.
Therefore, 'drive' is the word most nearly the same in meaning as 'pushed' in this context.
Important Questions from Reading Comprehension
What is the meaning of ‘intrigued’?
What are ice shelves?
What are icebergs?
When the iceberg turns upside down, it appears ________.
The use of science in its simple form has helped man to ____________
