Question 126·Hard·Words in Context
The following text is adapted from a 1913 journal kept by mountaineer Helen Cartwright.
By the time we reached the final camp, the wind had scoured every loose particle from the ridge and our provisions were all but exhausted. We husbanded what little kerosene remained, filling the lamps only halfway and trusting moonlight to do the rest.
As used in the passage, what does the word “husbanded” most nearly mean?
For SAT Words-in-Context questions, always start by rereading one or two sentences around the word to understand the situation, tone, and what is literally happening. Put your own simple phrase in place of the word (e.g., “used carefully,” “wasted,” “guessed”) based on that context, then go to the choices and eliminate any that clash with the tone or the described action, even if they are common meanings of the word. Choose the option that best matches your paraphrase in that specific sentence, not what the word usually means in everyday speech.
Hints
Focus on the problem in the scene
Look closely at the phrases “our provisions were all but exhausted” and “what little kerosene remained.” What kind of situation are they in when they use the word “husbanded”?
Use the explanation after the word
Pay attention to what they did right after they “husbanded” the kerosene: “filling the lamps only halfway and trusting moonlight to do the rest.” What does that show about how they handled the kerosene?
Check which choice fits the tone and action
Ask yourself: in this serious, low-supplies situation, are they being careless, joyful, making a rough guess, or something else with their kerosene? Eliminate any options that clearly don’t match that behavior.
Step-by-step Explanation
Use the sentence to understand the situation
Reread the full sentence: their provisions were “all but exhausted,” and they had “what little kerosene remained.” This shows they were almost out of supplies and in a serious, needy situation.
Infer what action they took with the kerosene
Right after “husbanded,” the passage explains what they did: “filling the lamps only halfway and trusting moonlight to do the rest.” That behavior shows they were using the remaining kerosene in a limited, careful way so it wouldn’t run out too quickly.
So, in this context, “husbanded” must mean something like using their remaining supply carefully to make it last.
Match your inferred meaning to the answer choices
Now compare your inferred meaning to the options:
- Misused = used badly or incorrectly — the sentence shows the opposite of carelessness.
- Celebrated = honored or rejoiced over — the tone is serious and focused on scarcity, not joy.
- Estimated = roughly calculated an amount — the sentence is about how they used the kerosene, not guessing quantities.
- Conserved = used carefully to avoid wasting or running out.
The only option that fits the idea of using a scarce resource carefully so it lasts longer is D) Conserved.