Question

Shell-fish are, comparatively, slow of movement, without guile, pitifully trusting, and very easily caught. Observe the difference between the chunk of mutton and four feet of string with which one goes crabbing, and the complicated hooks, rods, flies, and reels devoted to the capture of unshelled fish.

What is the BEST definition for the word devoted as it is used in the first paragraph of the passage?

A) loving
B) sincere
C) centered one's attention on
D) set apart for a special use

Answer 1

The best definition for the word devoted as it is used in the first paragraph of this passage would be: D) set apart for a special use .

All the options presented in this question contain a valid definition of the word "devoted". However, we must take the context into consideration before choosing one of them. In this excerpt, the "hooks, rods, flies, and reels" have a specific purpose: they were manufactured to catch unshelled fish. That is because, unlike shell-fish, unshelled fish are much more difficult to catch. Thus, we may conclude that that gear is devoted to catching them - is manufacture and set apart for the special use of catching unshelled fish.