Understanding 'Fervid' in the Passage

The question asks us to find the expression that closely represents the meaning of the word 'fervid' as used in the provided passage. To do this, we need to look at the sentence where 'fervid' appears and understand its context.

Context of 'Fervid' in the Passage

The word 'fervid' appears in the final sentence of the passage:

"And prose thus asserting itself as the special and privileged artistic faculty of the present day, will be, however critics may try to narrow its scope, as varied in its excellence as humanity itself reflecting on the facts of its latest experience- an instrument of many stops, meditative, observant, descriptive, eloquent, analytic, plaintive, fervid."

Here, the author is describing the various modes or qualities of imaginative prose, likening it to an "instrument of many stops." The words listed after this phrase describe these different qualities or ways prose can express itself: meditative, observant, descriptive, eloquent, analytic, plaintive, and fervid.

Analyzing the Meaning of 'Fervid'

Let's consider the general meaning of 'fervid'. 'Fervid' typically means intensely enthusiastic or passionate, sometimes to an excessive degree. In the context of describing the quality of prose, it suggests a mode of writing that is intensely passionate or emotional.

Evaluating the Options

Now let's look at the given options and see which one best fits this meaning and the context:

• Option 1: feeling nostalgic

  Nostalgia refers to a sentimental longing for the past. This meaning is not related to intense passion or the various modes of expression described in the list (meditative, observant, etc.). So, this option is unlikely to be correct.

• Option 2: portraying feelings that are too strong

  This option suggests expressing intense or excessive feelings. This aligns well with the definition of 'fervid' as intensely passionate, possibly to an excessive degree ("too strong"). In the context of prose as an instrument of expression, "portraying feelings" fits perfectly.

• Option 3: riding strong feelings

  This option is somewhat related to strong feelings, but "riding" feelings is less precise in describing a quality or mode of prose expression compared to "portraying feelings." While it implies experiencing strong emotions, the passage describes how prose *is*, not what it *does* to the writer, in this list.

• Option 4: expressing humility of attitude

  Humility is mentioned earlier in the passage in relation to naturalism ("a certain humility of attitude"). However, 'fervid' means passionate or intense, which is quite different from humility. This option does not fit the meaning or the context within the list of prose qualities.

Comparing the options, "portraying feelings that are too strong" most accurately captures the sense of intense or excessive passion implied by 'fervid' when describing a quality of imaginative prose. It fits within the list of other descriptive terms for prose's expressive capabilities.

Conclusion

Based on the context within the passage and the common meaning of the word 'fervid', the expression that closely represents its meaning is "portraying feelings that are too strong".

Revision Table: Key Concepts

Additional Information: Understanding Vocabulary from Context

When you encounter an unfamiliar word in a reading passage, using context clues is a crucial skill. Here's how you can practice this:

• Read the sentence containing the word carefully.
• Read the sentences immediately before and after.
• Look for synonyms, antonyms, examples, or explanations within the surrounding text that might shed light on the word's meaning.
• Consider the overall topic and tone of the passage; this can provide hints about the word's connotation (positive, negative, or neutral).
• If the word is part of a list (like 'fervid' in this passage), consider the other items in the list. They often belong to a similar category or describe related attributes.
• Try substituting the word with potential meanings you infer from the context to see which one makes the most sense.

In this specific case, seeing 'fervid' alongside words like 'meditative', 'observant', 'descriptive', 'eloquent', 'analytic', and 'plaintive' tells us it's describing a way prose can feel or express itself, often related to mood or style. This helps narrow down the possibilities even before looking at external definitions.