Question

in the intervening decades, the lykovs had eked out a meager existence for themselves. they subsisted on their crops and on hunted game whenever possible, but they were often forced to forage for berries and pine nuts to stay alive. this uncertain lifestyle eventually took its toll: in 1961, after a summer snowstorm destroyed the years harvest, akulina died of starvation. wanting to help the family, the geologists made numerous gifts of seeds, clothing, utensils, and other goods. this largess was lost on karp lykov and his older children, who maintained a deep distrust of all things modern and were very timid around outsiders. his younger son and daughter, dmitry and agafia, were not nearly so diffident. they were fascinated and delighted by the technologies—like flashlights and television—that had been invented during their forty years of isolation. ultimately, however, the lykovs chose to pass up the comforts of modernity and live out the rest of their natural lives in the siberian wilderness. what is the meaning of subsisted as used in the passage? survived feasted thrived

Explanation:

The text mentions the Lykovs used their crops, hunted game, and foraged for berries and pine - nuts to stay alive. "Subsisted" in this context means they survived on these resources. "Feasted" implies a large, enjoyable meal which is not the case here. "Thrived" means to grow or develop well, which is not accurate as their lifestyle was uncertain and led to starvation in some cases.

Answer:

survived