Read the following passage carefully and choose the most appropriate answer to the question out of the four alternatives. When I think of my family's history on the land. I experience a pang of regret. Unlike much of the arid West, where the land has gone virtually unchanged for centuries, my place of origin, western Kansas, has been torn up by agriculture. The flat plains, excellent soil, and sparse but just adequate rainfall permitted farming; therefore farming prevailed, and a good 90% of the original sod prairie is gone. The consequence, in human terms, is that our relationship to our place has always felt primarily mercantile. We used the land and denied, or held at bay, its effect on us. Yet from my earliest childhood, when most of the Kansas prairie was still intact, I've known that the land also had a romantic quality. I've felt moved by the expanse of it, enthralled by size. I take pride in my identity as a plains daughter.
From the passage, it may be determined that the word "mercantile" has something to do with
practicality
Understanding "Mercantile" in the Passage
The question asks for the meaning of the word "mercantile" as used in the provided passage. To determine the meaning, we need to look at the context in which the word appears.
The relevant sentence is: "The consequence, in human terms, is that our relationship to our place has always felt primarily mercantile. We used the land and denied, or held at bay, its effect on us."
Analyzing the Context of "Mercantile"
Let's break down the sentence and surrounding ideas:
- The passage talks about the history of the land in western Kansas, specifically how it was "torn up by agriculture."
- It mentions that the land permitted farming, and farming "prevailed."
- The author states that their family's relationship to the land "felt primarily mercantile."
- Immediately following this, the author explains what they mean by "mercantile" in this context: "We used the land and denied, or held at bay, its effect on us."
Connecting "Mercantile" to the Action
The phrase "We used the land" implies a relationship focused on utility, production, or perhaps economic gain from the land, rather than an emotional or spiritual connection. The act of "denying... its effect on us" reinforces the idea that the relationship was not about feeling connected to the land's natural state or beauty (which the author mentions having felt separately as a "romantic quality"), but about something else.
The word "mercantile" is commonly related to trade, commerce, business, or activities focused on making money. In this passage, using the land for agriculture, which historically is often done for practical reasons like sustenance or income, aligns with this concept. The relationship is transactional or based on using the land for practical purposes rather than appreciating it for its inherent qualities or allowing it to influence them emotionally or spiritually.
Evaluating the Options
Let's consider the provided options:
- practicality: This aligns well with the idea of "using the land." A relationship based on practicality is focused on what is useful or efficient. Using land for farming is a practical application of the land's resources. This fits the context of "used the land" and the contrast with denying the land's emotional "effect."
- danger: The passage mentions the land being "torn up" and a "pang of regret," but the word "mercantile" itself in this context doesn't directly suggest danger. The relationship is described as "mercantile," not dangerous.
- America: While western Kansas is in America, the word "mercantile" describes the *nature* of the relationship to the land, not the location itself. This option is not supported by the context.
- spirituality: The author explicitly contrasts the "mercantile" relationship with the land having a "romantic quality" and the feeling of being "moved by the expanse of it." Denying the land's "effect on us" further suggests the relationship was *not* spiritual or emotional. Therefore, "spirituality" is the opposite of what "mercantile" implies in this passage.
Based on the context provided in the passage, where the mercantile relationship is described by "We used the land and denied... its effect on us," the word "mercantile" is most closely associated with a focus on practical use or utility. Therefore, "practicality" is the most appropriate meaning.
Conclusion
By analyzing the sentence where "mercantile" is used and the explanation that follows ("We used the land and denied... its effect on us"), we can deduce that the relationship described is one focused on the practical use of the land for purposes like agriculture, rather than an emotional or spiritual connection. This aligns best with the concept of practicality.
| Key Phrase from Passage | Implied Meaning of "Mercantile" | Best Matching Option |
|---|---|---|
| "relationship to our place has always felt primarily mercantile" | A relationship focused on a certain type of interaction with the land. | - |
| "We used the land and denied... its effect on us" | The relationship was about practical usage and lacking deeper connection. | practicality |
Revision Table: Understanding Passage Vocabulary
Reviewing vocabulary in context is crucial for reading comprehension. Here's a quick summary:
- Mercantile: In this passage, related to using the land for practical, possibly economic, purposes, contrasting with emotional or spiritual connection.
- Arid: Very dry, lacking sufficient rainfall.
- Sod prairie: Grassland where the surface layer of earth and roots is thick and matted.
- Prevailed: Proved to be stronger or more important; triumphed.
- Held at bay: Kept at a distance; prevented from having an effect.
- Enthralled: Filled with wonder and delight.
Additional Information on Word Meanings in Reading Comprehension
Understanding the meaning of a word in a reading comprehension passage often depends heavily on its specific context. While a word might have multiple dictionary definitions, only one or two will fit how it is used in the text.
Strategies for determining word meaning from context:
- Read the sentences immediately before and after the word.
- Look for explanations, examples, or restatements within the passage that clarify the word's meaning.
- Consider the overall topic and tone of the passage.
- Analyze how the word relates to other ideas or concepts discussed.
- If the word is part of a contrast (like "mercantile" vs. "romantic quality" here), understanding the contrasting idea can help define the target word.
By using these strategies, readers can often deduce the meaning of unfamiliar words without needing a dictionary, which is essential for timed tests.
Important Questions from Reading Comprehension
Why, according to the writer can't people be motivated to use a resource prudently?
1. They feel that others may overuse the resource
2. It is possible to substitute the resource
3. Abundance of the resource availability
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
When do people use resources exhaustively?
The self-interest of people affects the use of renewable resources
People rooted in a locality
Which among the following is closest in meaning with the word 'deplete'?
