Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT4) Practice Exam

When studying lexical ambiguity, what do individuals primarily rely on to understand ambiguous words?

1. The context of the conversation

2. The popularity of the word

3. The meaning dominance of each definition

4. The source of the word's usage

The correct answer is: The meaning dominance of each definition

To understand ambiguous words, individuals primarily rely on the meaning dominance of each definition. Lexical ambiguity arises when a word has multiple meanings, and the clarity of communication depends significantly on which meaning is most relevant in a given context. People typically draw upon their understanding of the various meanings associated with a word and determine which one is the most appropriate for the situation at hand. This concept of meaning dominance refers to the idea that certain meanings of a word may be more frequently used or understood in specific contexts, guiding the listener or reader to interpret the intended meaning more accurately. While context does play a role in disambiguating words, the immediate cognitive processing involves evaluating the relative prominence or commonness of each meaning. The other options, such as the popularity of the word or the source of the word's usage, do not directly inform the individual in the same fundamental way regarding meaning dominance during the interpretation process of ambiguous terms.