ASVAB · Vocabulary in Context

'The veteran soldier remained composed under fire, calmly directing his unit.' In this passage, 'composed' most nearly means:

Correct answer

Calm

  1. A Angry
  2. B Confused
  3. C Calm
  4. D Panicked

Why this is the answer

Vocabulary in context: The context ('remained composed... calmly directing') indicates 'composed' means CALM/self-controlled. ASVAB strategy: use surrounding words to determine a word's meaning in the passage. 'Calmly' directly reinforces that 'composed' means calm and in control. The opposite ('panicked,' 'confused') would contradict 'calmly directing his unit.' Context makes the meaning clear.

Source: ASVAB Paragraph Comprehension — Vocabulary in Context

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About this topic: Vocabulary in Context

Vocabulary-in-context questions ask what a word means as used in the passage. Substitute each answer into the sentence; the one that keeps the sentence's meaning is correct, even if the word has other meanings elsewhere. This is one of 13 Paragraph Comprehension questions on vocabulary in context, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

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