Read the passage:

"The man at the gas station gave me directions and then kept on chatting, telling me about the weather to come and places to stay nearby. His laconic wife simply nodded her head, occasionally correcting him on his lefts and rights and finally telling me I'd best be on my way if I wanted to reach town by sunset."

Based on context clues in the passage, what is the most likely meaning of "laconic"? Select two options.

A. talkative
B. brief
C. open
D. warm
E. concise

The meanings of 'laconic' are 'brief' and 'concise,' as indicated by the contrast between the husband's chattiness and the wife's minimal but effective communication.

Explanation:

Based on context clues in the passage, the most likely meanings of laconic are brief and concise. The passage describes the man at the gas station giving directions and chatting, while his wife is characterized as laconic, suggesting she uses few words. Her actions, primarily nodding and occasionally correcting, imply she communicates effectively, but with minimal speech. This understanding is reinforced by the contrast between her husband's chattiness and her succinct way of communicating, highlighting her tendency to express herself succinctly.