Which meaning of perish most closely matches its meaning in the following passage (lines 5-6)?
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
Answer choices for the above question
A. noun | a temporary failure or loss of concentration
B. noun | an interval of time
C. verb | to come to an end; suffer ruin or destruction
D. verb | to fall into an inferior state or condition
C. verb | to come to an end; suffer ruin or destruction
In order to determine which meaning of "perish" closely matches its meaning in the given passage, we need to understand the context in which it is used. Let's analyze the passage to find the answer.
The passage states, "But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate." Here, the word "perish" is used to describe something that happens twice. This usage implies that the word is describing an end or destruction of something.
Now let's consider the answer choices:
A. noun | a temporary failure or loss of concentration: This option does not align with the meaning of the word "perish" in the passage because it refers to a temporary failure or loss of concentration, which is unrelated to the context.
B. noun | an interval of time: This option does not fit the meaning of "perish" in the passage. The word is not referring to a specific interval of time but rather to the concept of destruction.
C. verb | to come to an end; suffer ruin or destruction: This option closely matches the meaning of "perish" in the passage. It conveys the idea of something coming to an end or suffering ruin or destruction, which aligns with the context.
D. verb | to fall into an inferior state or condition: This option does not accurately capture the meaning of "perish" in the passage. It refers to falling into an inferior state or condition, which is different from the sense of destruction conveyed in the passage.
Based on the analysis, the answer that most closely matches the meaning of "perish" in the given passage is C. verb | to come to an end; suffer ruin or destruction.