Question

The use of the underlined phrase "hard limits" in the context of the fourth paragraph most closely means \(\underline{\hspace{4cm}}\).

• A. unfair rules
• B. impractical barriers
• C. overbearing restrictions
• D. useful regulations
• E. restrictions that are uncompromising

Hint:

When a question asks for the meaning of a word or phrase in context, look for synonyms, antonyms, and examples in the surrounding sentences and paragraphs. The author often defines a term by contrasting it with another idea. Here, "hard limits" is contrasted with "useful regulations."

Answer 1

Answer: (E)

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This is a vocabulary-in-context question. We need to determine the meaning of the phrase "hard limits" by examining how it's used in the fourth paragraph and its relationship to other ideas in the passage.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The fourth paragraph states: "Cities and towns that set hard limits against short-term rentals are halting the economic growth..."
To understand this, let's look at the preceding paragraph (Paragraph 3), which gives examples of these limits: "New York enacted firm restrictions on short-term renters, and many HOAs now embed limits on the purposes that a space may be used for, barring short-term rentals."
The word "barring" means to prohibit or ban entirely. "Firm restrictions" suggests strict, inflexible rules. These actions represent a complete stop or an absolute boundary with no room for negotiation or exceptions.
Now let's evaluate the options:
- (A) unfair rules: The author may believe they are unfair, but "hard" describes the nature of the limit, not its fairness.
- (B) impractical barriers: The passage suggests they are detrimental, but not necessarily impractical to enforce.
- (C) overbearing restrictions: This is close, but "overbearing" implies an element of excessive force or authority, while "hard" focuses more on the inflexibility of the rule itself.
- (D) useful regulations: This is what the author advocates for in the final paragraph, in direct contrast to "hard limits."
- (E) restrictions that are uncompromising: This option perfectly captures the idea of a fixed, absolute, and inflexible rule, like a complete ban. It aligns with the context of "barring" rentals and "firm restrictions."

Step 3: Final Answer:
The phrase "hard limits" refers to strict, inflexible rules like outright bans. The best synonym for this concept among the choices is "restrictions that are uncompromising." Therefore, option (E) is correct.