Question

read the passage and dictionary entry.

to leon entered the massive house, he immediately felt tiny and unimportant. the exterior was rich, and the building style was highly decorative. the interiors of the foyer, by contrast, seemed cavernous and empty. perhaps it was because the mansion was just so huge. the man who answered the door led him silently into a room off the main entry, which appeared to be a library or study. the dim lighting and dark furnishings contributed to the room’s austere atmosphere. it seemed like the kind of place where laughing was absolutely forbidden.

dictionary
austere (aw - steer) adj.

1. severe, sober
2. simple and lacking in luxury

which word has the same meaning as austere as it is used in the passage?

1. ancient
2. empty
3. plain
4. solemn

Explanation:

1. First, analyze the context of "austere" in the passage: The room has dim lighting, dark furnishings, and a forbidding atmosphere (laughing forbidden), suggesting a serious, solemn tone.
2. Analyze each option:

• Option 1 (ancient): The passage doesn't imply the room is old, so eliminate.
• Option 2 (empty): The passage says the interior is cavernous and empty, but "austere" refers to the mood, not emptiness, so eliminate.
• Option 3 (plain): "Plain" means simple/lacking luxury, but the context is more about seriousness, not simplicity. Eliminate.
• Option 4 (solemn): "Solemn" means serious, sober, which matches the room's atmosphere (forbidding, no laughing) and the dictionary definition of "austere" (serious, sober).

Answer:

1. solemn