Question

what is the meaning of the word chief as used below? use the synonym to help you determine its meaning.

the mostly flat land and warm climate of barbados make it a perfect place for growing sugar. as a result, sugar, molasses, and rum production were the primary industries in barbados for many years. in the 1990s, however, tourism became the countrys chief industry.

most important

slowest growing

poorest

Explanation:

To determine the meaning of "chief", we analyze the context. The text says sugar - related industries were "primary" (meaning main/most important) for years, and then tourism became the "chief" industry. "Primary" is a synonym clue, so "chief" should mean "most important". "Slowest growing" and "poorest" don't fit the context of describing an industry's significance.

Answer:

most important