Words in Context

SAT Reading and Writing· difficulty 4/5

The play's central figure is rendered in stark relief against the quiet, almost colorless lives that surround him. His ambition, his appetite, his very loudness throw the others' modesty into ever sharper focus.

As used in the text, what does the word "relief" most nearly mean?

  • A

    raised contrast or prominence

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  • B

    aid given to the needy

  • C

    alleviation of pain

  • D

    replacement of a worker

Explanation

The character stands out sharply against the quieter ones — the artistic/sculptural sense of "relief" (raised against a flat ground), reinforced by "throw . . . into sharper focus."

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