Question

the following question has two parts. answer part a first, and then part b
part a
what does the context suggest is the most likely meaning of desolate in this passage from \my old home\?
as we drew near my former home the day became overcast and a cold
wind blew into the cabin of our boat, while all one could see through the
chinks in our bamboo awning were a few desolate villages, void of any
sign of life, scattered far and near under the somber yellow sky
o a. located at a distance
o b. bustling with activity
o c. ancient and honorable
o d. deserted and neglected
part b
which of the following phrases from the excerpt presents a context clue that most clearly supports the answer to part a?
o a. near my former home
o b. all one could see
o c. void of any signs of life
o d. scattered far and near

Explanation:

For Part A: The description of the villages as "void of any sign of life" and the overall somber tone ("overcast", "cold wind", "somber yellow sky") suggests a state of being deserted and neglected.
For Part B: "Void of any sign of life" directly supports the idea that the villages are deserted and neglected (the answer from Part A).

Answer:

Part A: D. deserted and neglected
Part B: C. void of any sign of life