<p>The following exerpt is from a critical reading passage. The following question is a vocabulary in context question. </p>
<p>“Dust, however fine and powdery, is still heavier than water, and whenever the water becomes sufficiently still, it will gradually sink to the bottom, not only in lakes and seas but also in the sluggish lower reaches of rivers and where flood conditions exist, in the form of silt.” </p>
<p>The word “reaches” as used in this context means
A. grasps
B. unbroken streaches
C. range of knowledge
D. promontories
E. juxtapositions</p>
<p>I need help with this question.</p>
<p>Well, how about process of elimination.</p>
<p>A – grasps doesn’t make sense. This is the usual meaning of the word “reaches,” like reaching out for something.
C – range of knowledge doesn’t make sense, because it has nothing to do with the river.
D – promontories doesn’t make sense, because that wouldn’t be “lowest” – promontories wouldn’t be underwater.
E – juxtopositions is completely random, and doesn’t make any sense.</p>
<p>So it must be B, unbroken stretches. Although this isn’t a very precise explanation of what “reaches” means, it is much more logical than the other 4.</p>
<p>I think A is a lure answer. Reaches and Grasps have similar definitions however in context, bleh. </p>
<p>B… is that supposed to be ‘streatches’? never heard that word before</p>
<p>C…no</p>
<p>D gives you the definition of “A high ridge of land or rock jutting out into a body of water; a headland.” so definitely a maybe</p>
<p>E…no</p>
<p>D’s your answer?</p>
<p>oh man sorry i must be on crack, yes it is B. </p>
<p>I misread the definition of promonotories.</p>