Which sentence best demonstrates deriving meaning of the word 'benevolent' from context?

Which sentence best demonstrates deriving meaning of the word 'benevolent' from context?

• A. The charitable leader helped many people; she was benevolent
• B. The frugal shopper bought the most expensive item
• C. The storm raged through the town
• D. The scientist conducted experiments

Answer: (A)

Understanding meaning from context clues is what this question is testing. Benevolent describes someone who is kind and generous, especially toward others. In the sentence about a charitable leader who helped many people, the words charitable and helped many people point to a kind, giving nature. That combination lets you infer benevolent’s meaning from the surrounding words. The other sentences don’t offer a hint about kindness or giving, so they don’t guide you to the sense of benevolent. One talks about thriftiness, another about a storm, and another about conducting experiments, none of which connect to being generous or kind.

Understanding meaning from context clues is what this question is testing. Benevolent describes someone who is kind and generous, especially toward others. In the sentence about a charitable leader who helped many people, the words charitable and helped many people point to a kind, giving nature. That combination lets you infer benevolent’s meaning from the surrounding words.

The other sentences don’t offer a hint about kindness or giving, so they don’t guide you to the sense of benevolent. One talks about thriftiness, another about a storm, and another about conducting experiments, none of which connect to being generous or kind.