Question

tracy wilson
1 julianne had never given much thought to cancer before one dismal monday morning last april. the dawn clouds were gray and heavy, and it looked as though it might rain at any second as julianne meandered to the mailbox at the end of the lawn. as she opened the box, the rusty hinge made a screech much like someone scraping fingernails across a blackboard. the news julianne received in a postcard that day was much more unnerving. it was simply stated: “miss taylor, please call our office to schedule a follow - up appointment as soon as possible. tests from your annual physical examination have revealed an abnormality.” “abnormality?” julianne questioned. what kind of abnormality could a 24 - year - old woman, who exercised religiously and consumed a healthy diet, possibly have? within hours she learned the answer to this question only to pose a thousand more in its place.
2 cancer. “the big c,” as it is often called. her doctor felt sure but ordered more tests to confirm his suspicion. while cervical cancer in a woman julianne’s age was rare, her doctor admitted, it certainly was not unheard of in her demographic group. her doctor explained that this type of cancer is often caused by a common virus that many women do not even realize they have. the human papillomavirus can lead to this type of cancer if a woman’s immune system does not fight off the virus in its initial stages.

1 to plan, organize, or carry out.
2 a raised platform or floor, as for speakers, performers, etc.
3 a single step or degree in a process; a particular phase, period, position, etc., in a process, development, or series.
4 the small platform of a microscope on which the object to be examined is placed.
5 a dramatic fit thrown in a moment of rage
which definition is the best meaning for the word stage as it is used in this sentence?
he determined that since julianne’s cancer had been discovered in an early stage of development, perhaps her fertility could also be saved.
a definition 1
b definition 2
c definition 3
d definition 4

Explanation:

To determine the best definition for "stage" in the sentence, we analyze each option:

• Definition 1: "to plan, organize, or carry out" – does not fit the context of cancer's development.
• Definition 2: "a raised platform or floor, as for speakers, performers, etc." – irrelevant to cancer development.
• Definition 3: "a single step or degree in a process; a particular phase, period, position, etc., in a process, development, or series" – matches the context of cancer being discovered in an early phase of development.
• Definition 4: "the small platform of a microscope on which the object to be examined is placed" – irrelevant to cancer development.
• Definition 5: "a dramatic fit thrown in a moment of rage" – irrelevant.

So Definition 3 (Option C) is the best fit.

Answer:

C. Definition 3