Question 142·Easy·Words in Context
The following text is from a 1925 travel memoir.
We crossed the desert in silence. Not even the camels complained. Toward evening a slim fringe of date palms signaled the presence of the river long before we could hear its water.
As used in the text, what does the word “signaled” most nearly mean?
For Words in Context questions, always start by rereading the full sentence (and sometimes the sentence before or after) and restating the target word in your own simple language based on context. Then, compare your paraphrase to each answer choice, eliminating meanings that depend on literal physical actions or technical senses that don’t match the scene or tone; finally, choose the word that best fits what the sentence is actually saying, even if that word is less dramatic or exciting than the others.
Hints
Focus on the role of the date palms
Ask yourself: What are the date palms doing in this sentence? Are they physically acting, or are they helping the travelers know something?
Use the contrast with hearing the water
The sentence says the palms did this “long before we could hear its water.” What did the travelers get from seeing the palms before hearing the river?
Eliminate choices that don’t fit the scene
Think about whether the palms are literally moving, shining, or sending a message, or if they are simply serving another purpose in the description.
Step-by-step Explanation
Use the sentence context
Look at the whole sentence: “Toward evening a slim fringe of date palms signaled the presence of the river long before we could hear its water.” The author is saying that the travelers saw the date palms before they could hear the river.
Ask what the palms are doing for the travelers
The date palms are not making sound or light; they are simply visible in the distance. Their appearance tells the travelers that a river must be nearby, even though the water cannot yet be heard.
Match this idea to the answer choices
We need a word meaning that the palms served as a sign or clue that the river was there. “Waved” and “flashed” suggest physical movement or light, and “transmitted” suggests sending information like a signal or message. The only option that matches the idea of serving as a sign that something is present is “indicated”, so D is correct.