Question
Based on context clues in this paragraph, sparse most nearly means __ The farmer’s diet was a sparse one, based on drinking beer and eating bread, a few vegetables, and some protein in the form of fish and eggs. The noble diet
was almost limitless: fancy fruits, deer, duck, cheese, butter, and honey. Nobles, however, might for religious reasons avoid eating pork and fish. The priests, who
offered up banquets of rich food and drink to the gods three times a day, ate the unconsumed food and ended up with blocked arteries, high blood pressure, and
premature heart attacks. So say their mummified remains.
Source: Paul Edward Dutton, et al. Many Europes: Choice and Chance in Western Civilization, ie.
fatty, unhealthy
limited, meager
varied, interesting
was almost limitless: fancy fruits, deer, duck, cheese, butter, and honey. Nobles, however, might for religious reasons avoid eating pork and fish. The priests, who
offered up banquets of rich food and drink to the gods three times a day, ate the unconsumed food and ended up with blocked arteries, high blood pressure, and
premature heart attacks. So say their mummified remains.
Source: Paul Edward Dutton, et al. Many Europes: Choice and Chance in Western Civilization, ie.
fatty, unhealthy
limited, meager
varied, interesting
Ask by Hanson Hamilton. in the United States
Mar 31,2025
Upstudy AI Solution
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Answer
“limited, meager”
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Beyond the Answer
The farmer’s diet reflects a lifestyle that is quite different from the indulgent meals enjoyed by nobles. While nobles dine extravagantly with a plethora of options, the farmer has a much narrower selection, primarily characterized by basic and insufficient nutrients, suggesting that the concept of “sparse” aligns closely with the idea of limitation in dietary choices.
When analyzing the context, it’s essential to note the stark contrast between the rich diets and the farmer’s, making “limited” or “meager” a natural fit for understanding the term “sparse.” It’s a great way to notice how vocabulary can demonstrate social and economic disparities!
