Question

Maya priests tracked the movements of Venus, which they regarded as a powerful portent. In this sentence, portent means:

a) something that treats or prevents disease
b) any instrument or device used in fighting
c) a sign of something about to happen
d) something considered to be very beautiful

Answer 1

Maya priests regarded the movements of Venus as a powerful portent, meaning a sign of something about to happen.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the sentence provided, portent means a sign of something about to happen. It refers to something that is seen as a significant or meaningful indication of a future event. In the context of the sentence, the movements of Venus were considered by Maya priests to be a powerful sign, suggesting that they closely observed those movements for any potential significance.