Question

Upon visiting the Middle East in \(1850,\) Gustave Flaubert was so _____________ belly dancing that he wrote, in a letter to his mother, that the dancers alone made his trip worthwhile. a. overwhelmed by b. enamored of c. taken aback by d. beseeched by e. flustered by

Short answer

'b. enamored of' is the correct choice.

Step-by-step solution

Evaluate the Context

First, examine the sentence to understand the context. Notice that Flaubert wrote a letter to his mother stating that the belly dancers made his trip worthwhile. This suggests he had a positive response to the dancing.

Assess the Choices

Evaluate each word choice to ascertain whether it fits the given context. 'Overwhelmed by' and 'taken aback by' could imply a strong reaction, but could also be used in a a negative context. 'Beseeched by' means to be urgently and fervently asked, begged, or pleaded with - which doesn't fit. 'Flustered by' suggests agitation or embarrassment, which doesn't align with the positive connotation within the sentence.

Select the Best Fit

'Enamored of' suggests a strong liking or admiration, even love, for something. Given the strong positive context in the sentence, this is the best fit among the available options.

Key concepts

Contextual Understanding

When approaching a vocabulary question like the one involving Gustave Flaubert's description of belly dancing, the first step is crucial: understanding the context. Contextual understanding means grasping the overall situation or setting in which a word is used. For Flaubert's statement, we note that he wrote to his mother stating the dancers made his trip worthwhile, indicating a positive experience.

Context plays a significant role because it can change the meaning or implication of words. Words might have multiple meanings, and only by understanding the surrounding text can you determine the correct one.
- Notice who is involved in the sentence.
- Identify any emotions or actions being described.
- Recognize the consequence or outcome highlighted in the sentence.
Grasping these elements can reveal what tone or attitude a sentence conveys, which is essential for pinpointing the right vocabulary word.

Vocabulary in Context

In this exercise, we practice decoding words within their operating environment, known as "vocabulary in context." Words do not stand alone; their meanings can shift based on the words around them.

For instance, in Flaubert’s case, “enamored of” suggests a sense of admiration or affection, which aligns with the description of his enjoyment of the dancers. To succeed in such exercises, remember these tips:

• Pay attention to adjectives, verbs, or adverbs around the target word. These can offer hints about whether the word carries a positive, negative, or neutral connotation.
• Look for punctuation or conjunctions, as they can signal a contrast or continuation of thought.
• Seek synonyms or antonyms nearby to infer the word's meaning.

The clues are all in the context. Always highlight parts of the passage that describe the mood or emotion to track precise meanings carefully.

Word Choice Evaluation

Once you understand the context and how vocabulary fits within it, you need to evaluate each word option presented to you. In the exercise, five words were offered, each carrying its own nuance and implication.

During word choice evaluation:

• Consider the tone: is it positive, negative, or neutral? Making sure that the tone matches the context is essential.
• Think about nuances: "overwhelmed" can mean a positive feeling, but often it's tied to stress, unlike "enamored," which firmly tilts towards positive affection.


• Avoid words that are completely out of context. For instance, "beseeched" was far too unrelated to a feeling of enjoyment.

These steps create a framework to choose the most accurate word, leading to better comprehension and more articulate communication. Thus, for the sentence about Flaubert, "enamored of" was deemed most fitting, reflecting his cherished memories of the dances.