Question

In the sentence “Her response was so equivocal that no one could ascertain her true intentions,” the word "equivocal" most nearly means:

• A. Clear and concise
• B. Purposefully vague
• C. Emotionally charged
• D. Aggressively critical

Hint:

Look for context clues in the sentence. Words like “no one could ascertain” point to ambiguity — a strong hint that the correct meaning involves vagueness or uncertainty.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

The sentence in question is: “Her response was so equivocal that no one could ascertain her true intentions.” To determine the most accurate meaning of the word "equivocal," we should consider the context provided by the sentence.

The structure of the sentence suggests that the nature of the response prevented others from understanding or determining clear intentions. This implies that the response was ambiguous or unclear.

Analyzing the provided options:

• Clear and concise: This option suggests that the response was straightforward and easily understood, which contradicts the sentence context.
• Purposefully vague: This means that the response was intentionally unclear or ambiguous, aligning perfectly with the inability to ascertain true intentions, as described in the sentence.
• Emotionally charged: This implies the response was filled with emotion, which does not fit the sentence's description of a lack of clarity about intentions.
• Aggressively critical: This suggests that the response was harsh or severely judging, again not fitting the context of ambiguity.

Thus, the word "equivocal" in this context most nearly means Purposefully vague.