What does the word anathema mean in the sentence below?
The notion of privatizing municipal public water utilities was anathema to the civic coalition, which viewed potable water as a non-negotiable fundamental human right.
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. something vehemently detested, loathed, or rejected
- Step 1: Analyze context: the coalition viewed water as a non-negotiable right, so the idea of privatization was completely abhorrent to them.
- Step 2: 'Anathema' refers to something or someone that one vehemently dislikes or is completely opposed to.
Answer
something vehemently detested, loathed, or rejected.
Why not the others: 'universally accepted as an enlightened economic policy' is the exact opposite of anathema; 'a temporary experimental trial awaiting public voter approval' describes a pilot program; 'a legally mandated requirement under national constitutional law' describes a constitutional mandate.
Practise more Higher Education Reading, Text Analysis, and Scientific Evaluation.
Free questions with an explanation for every one, and full timed MUET Malaysia (Malaysian University English Test) mock tests.
More Higher Education Reading, Text Analysis, and Scientific Evaluation questions
- Read the passage below and identify the main argument:
*"Blended learning models that combine asynchronous digital lectures with in-person… - What can be inferred from the statement below?
*"While large language models can generate grammatically flawless prose, they lack grounded… - Read the excerpt and determine the author's tone:
*"Corporate sustainability pledges that trumpet 'net-zero targets by 2050' while quietly… - Choose the closest contextual meaning of biomagnification in the passage:
Marine toxicologists tracked the biomagnification* of persi… - Read the passage and answer the question:
*"Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) derived from waste oils and agricultural residues can reduce l… - What is the meaning of the word paucity in the excerpt below?
The review committee pointed to the paucity* of longitudinal empirical…