Which sentence uses the underlined vocabulary word incorrectly?
A. The official left his country in a rather melancholy state of affairs to attend an energy conference.
B. The week of final exams seemed a propitious time to provide free tutoring to the students.
C. Most people don’t know what to do with ostentation when they inherit a lot of money.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is C. “Most people don’t know what to do with ostentation when they inherit a lot of money.”
Explanation:
Let’s first break down the meaning of the vocabulary words and how they are used in the sentences:
- Melancholy (in Sentence A):
- Melancholy refers to a feeling of sadness or sorrow. In sentence A, the word is used to describe the state of affairs in the country when the official left. The sentence implies that the country was in a sad or sorrowful state, which fits the meaning of “melancholy” perfectly. Therefore, sentence A uses the word correctly.
- Propitious (in Sentence B):
- Propitious means favorable or likely to result in success. In sentence B, the word is used to suggest that the timing of the week of final exams is favorable for providing free tutoring. This is a proper use of “propitious” because the sentence implies that the timing is advantageous, which aligns with the word’s meaning. Thus, sentence B also uses the word correctly.
- Ostentation (in Sentence C):
- Ostentation refers to the excessive display of wealth, knowledge, or other attributes, often with the intent of impressing others. In sentence C, the use of “ostentation” is incorrect. The sentence says, “Most people don’t know what to do with ostentation when they inherit a lot of money,” but the word “ostentation” is typically not something one “does” something with—it refers to a behavior or attitude. Instead, people inherit wealth or money, and ostentation might describe how some people display their inherited wealth. A more appropriate way to phrase this might be, “Most people don’t know what to do with their newfound wealth and the temptation to display ostentation.”
Therefore, sentence C misuses the word “ostentation” because it implies that ostentation itself is something that people do something with, rather than a behavior that could be associated with displaying inherited wealth.