Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the questions by selecting the correct/most appropriate options: It is very important that you should have a clear and accurate conception of the subject of the essay before you attempt to write on it - what exactly it is and (equally important) what it is not. Some subjects are so simple that you can scarcely make a mistake about them, but some want looking into to define them exactly. For example, "The uses of computers." The subject is not how computers work. Nor is it the history of computers. Yet some students, carelessly reading the subject, might easily take up a large part of their essay with such topics. In a short-school-essay, there is no room for irrelevant matters. You have to come to the point at once, and start away with the subject. The subject, in this case, is the uses of computers in offices, in industries, in aircraft, in spacecraft, etc. It is, therefore, very necessary that you should define the subject clearly in your mind, or you may waste much time and paper in writing on more or less irrelevant matters.
"Exact" is a synonym of one of the following words used in the passage.
accurate
Understanding Synonyms: Finding the Meaning of "Exact" in the Essay Passage
The question asks us to identify a synonym for the word "Exact" as it is used in the provided passage about essay writing. A synonym is a word that has a similar meaning to another word. We need to carefully consider the context in which "Exact" appears in the passage to choose the best fit from the given options.
Analyzing the Passage Context
The passage emphasizes the importance of having a "clear and accurate conception of the subject of the essay". It uses the word "exactly" when explaining how subjects need to be defined precisely: "...what exactly it is and (equally important) what it is not." This suggests that "exact" refers to being precise, correct, and specific, especially when defining the scope of a topic like "The uses of computers." The passage warns against wasting time on irrelevant matters, highlighting the need to "come to the point at once" and define the subject clearly.
Evaluating the Options
Let's look at the meaning of each option provided:
- scarcely: This word means 'barely' or 'hardly'. It relates to frequency or degree, not precision. For example, "He scarcely noticed the sign." This does not match the meaning of "exact".
- irrelevant: This word means 'not connected with or relevant to something'. It's about being off-topic. The passage advises against including irrelevant matters, making it an antonym or contrasting idea to being exact about the subject.
- conception: This word means 'an idea or a mental concept'. The passage mentions having an accurate conception of the subject, but conception itself is not a synonym for exact. It refers to the understanding, not the precision of that understanding.
- accurate: This word means 'correct in all details; precise'. It perfectly matches the sense of precision and correctness implied by "exact" when defining the essay's subject matter. The passage itself uses accurate to describe the necessary clarity of thought about the topic.
Conclusion on the Synonym
Based on the analysis, the word "accurate" is the best synonym for "Exact" in the context of the essay writing passage. Both words convey the idea of precision and correctness, which is crucial for defining an essay topic clearly and avoiding irrelevant content.
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 ____________
