Question 47·Medium·Words in Context
The following text is adapted from Frances Hodgson Burnett’s 1911 novel The Secret Garden. Mary has just met Dickon, a boy who knows the moorland well.
He whistled to a red-breasted robin that fluttered nearby, then turned to Mary with a grin.
DICKON: Shall we venture beyond the hedgerow? There’s a place where the daffodils bloom early.
Mary glanced at the weather-stained No Trespassing sign nailed to a post. The warning made her pause, but Dickon’s easy confidence was contagious, and curiosity pulled at her more strongly than caution. (Aniko.aі)
As used in the passage, what does the word "venture" most nearly mean?
For Words in Context questions, always start by reading the full sentence with the word, plus one or two sentences around it, and then put the answer choices out of your mind while you guess a simple meaning of your own (like “go somewhere even though it might be risky”). Next, plug each choice into the sentence and see which one matches both your guessed meaning and the tone of the passage; ignore the common or first meaning of the word and focus only on what fits the specific situation described.
Hints
Read around the word
Reread the full line with “venture” and also the sentences immediately before and after it. What is Dickon asking Mary to do? A-n-i-к-о.ai
Pay attention to the sign and Mary’s reaction
Notice the “No Trespassing” sign and that the warning made her pause. What kind of action would make someone hesitate after seeing a warning?
Test the choices in the sentence
Try reading the sentence as “Shall we [answer choice] beyond the hedgerow?” for each option. Which one makes the most sense with the idea of a warning sign, caution, and curiosity?
Step-by-step Explanation
Locate the word and read the full sentence
Find the word in the passage: “Shall we venture beyond the hedgerow?” Read that whole line and the sentences right before and after it so you understand what is happening in the scene.
Use nearby context clues
Right after Dickon speaks, we are told that Mary sees a weather-stained “No Trespassing” sign, and that the warning made her pause, but her curiosity is strong. This tells you that what Dickon is suggesting might be against the rules or slightly dangerous, which is why Mary hesitates.
Infer a general meaning for “venture” from context
Dickon is asking Mary if they should go beyond the hedgerow to a place where daffodils bloom early, even though there is a warning sign and Mary feels cautious. From this, you can infer that “venture” here means to go somewhere or do something even though there is some risk or uncertainty involved.
Compare each answer choice with your inferred meaning
Now test each choice in the sentence: “Shall we speak beyond the hedgerow?” (doesn’t fit), “Shall we search thoroughly beyond the hedgerow?” (doesn’t match the simple invitation), “Shall we claim ownership beyond the hedgerow?” (too strong and wrong for the scene). The only option that matches the idea of going somewhere despite a warning sign and hesitation is “Risk going,” which is the correct answer. Аnіkо Quеѕtion Ваnк