Question

Read the lines from The Faerie Queene.


There grew a goodly tree him fair beside,
Laden with fruit and apples rosy red,
As they in pure vermilion had been dyed,
Whereof great virtues over all were red. …


Which option most clearly states how a student who did not know the meaning of vermilion could infer its definition?


The Faerie Queene The student could use the context clues “rosy red” and “dyed” to infer that vermilion is a shade of red.

The student could use the context clues “fruit” and “apples” to infer that vermilion is a type of fruit.

The student could use the context clues “goodly trees” and “laden” to infer that vermilion is a type of fertile tree.

The student could use the context clues “pure” and “virtues” to infer that vermilion is a type of strong morality.

Answer 1

Correct answer: The student could use the context clues “rosy red” and “dyed” to infer that vermilion is a shade of red.

Explanation: You can figure out from the lines that “vermillion” is about the color of fruit and apples, which were rosy red, “as they in pure vermilion had been dyed” meaning “because they in pure vermilion had been dyed”. So vermilion is the color in which apples and fruit were dyed, which is rosy red!