ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery)Word Knowledge (WK)Medium
A biologist observed a <b>plethora</b> of species in the newly discovered rainforest. What does 'plethora' mean in this context?
- AVariety
- BAbundance
- CScarcity
- DAbsence
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Abundance
The context of a 'newly discovered rainforest' suggests a rich and diverse environment, making 'abundance' the most fitting meaning for 'plethora', which means an excess or overabundance.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Variety refers to the diversity of items, which might be present, but 'plethora' specifically points to the quantity.
- C. Scarcity is the opposite of plethora.
- D. Absence means the lack of something, which is incorrect.
Plethora
A large or excessive amount of something.
- Often implies more than is necessary or desirable, but can also just mean a large quantity.
- Derived from Greek for 'fullness'.
- Synonyms: excess, surplus, profusion, abundance.
Memory trick: Plenty of 'pleth' means a plethora of things, like plants in a dense forest.