Question 14·Medium·Words in Context
The following text is from an 1872 letter by American naturalist John Muir.
From the moment I set foot in the valley, I felt a reverence for the towering walls of granite that no words could fully convey; this feeling rooted me to the spot until twilight painted the cliffs in shades of rose and violet.
As used in the text, what does the word "reverence" most nearly mean?
For SAT Words-in-Context questions, always rely on the sentence itself rather than the most common definition you know. First, reread the sentence and put the target word in your own simple terms based on the tone and clues around it. Then, check each answer by mentally plugging it into the sentence: eliminate choices that don’t fit the grammar (for example, events you don’t "feel") or that clash with the tone (negative vs. positive, weak vs. strong). Choose the option that fits both the meaning suggested by the context and the way the word functions in the sentence.
Hints
Look at the whole sentence, not just the word
Reread the full sentence and pay attention to what kind of feeling the writer has when he first sees the valley and its granite walls.
Think about the tone
Ask yourself whether the writer’s feeling toward the valley seems positive or negative, and whether it sounds strong or weak.
Check how the word is used grammatically
Notice that the sentence says "I felt a reverence for the towering walls". Which answer choices can logically be something you feel for something else?
Step-by-step Explanation
Use the context around the word
Read the full sentence and focus on the part with the word:
"From the moment I set foot in the valley, I felt a reverence for the towering walls of granite that no words could fully convey; this feeling rooted me to the spot until twilight painted the cliffs in shades of rose and violet."
Notice what is being described: a strong emotional reaction to the beauty and grandeur of the valley’s granite walls.
Decide the tone and type of emotion
Ask: Is the emotion positive or negative? Is it calm, afraid, doubtful, or admiring?
The language about being "rooted" to the spot and the cliffs being painted in beautiful colors (“shades of rose and violet”) suggests a powerful, positive, almost awe-filled emotion toward nature, not fear or uncertainty.
Test each choice in the sentence
Mentally replace reverence with each option:
- "I felt a religious ceremony for the towering walls" — this doesn’t fit grammatically or logically; you have a ceremony, you don’t feel one.
- "I felt a lingering doubt for the towering walls" — this would be a negative, uncertain feeling, which clashes with the admiring tone.
- "I felt a momentary silence for the towering walls" — silence is not something you "feel for" something in this way.
- One choice describes a strong, positive attitude toward something, which matches the awe-filled description.
Match the meaning to the context
The only option that describes a strong, positive feeling toward the valley’s granite walls is “Deep respect”, which captures Muir’s sense of awe and admiration for the natural landscape.