Read the passage:

"The man at the gas station gave me directions and then kept on chatting, telling me about the weather to come, 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 term 'laconic' describes someone who is brief and concise in speech. In the context of the passage, it contrasts with the husband's talkative nature. Therefore, the most likely meanings of 'laconic' are 'brief' and 'concise.'

Explanation:

Understanding the Term "Laconic"

In the provided passage, the word "laconic" is used to describe the man's wife in contrast to her talkative husband. To determine the meaning of this word, we can use context clues present in the text.

The man at the gas station is described as chatting and giving detailed information, indicating that he is talkative. In contrast, the wife's behavior is characterized by her simple nodding and occasional corrections, suggesting that she does not engage in lengthy conversation. This aligns with the definitions of "brief" and "concise", which both imply a lack of extra words.

Based on these context clues, the most likely meanings of laconic would be:

brief
concise

Thus, the best answer options, reflecting her nature of being less talkative compared to her husband, would be brief and concise.

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