story name: The words we lived by : You annotated Guide to the constitution by linda monk by Hachette Books
Use context clues to determine the meaning of the word defective as it is used in paragraph 12. Write your definition of “defective.” Explain how you figured out the meaning of the word by citing specific evidence from the text
In order to determine the meaning of the word "defective" as it is used in paragraph 12 of the story "The Words We Lived By: Your Annotated Guide to the Constitution" by Linda Monk, we need to analyze the surrounding context. By referring to specific evidence from the text, we can understand the intended meaning.
To start, let's consider the sentence in which the word "defective" appears. This will provide us with important clues.
Paragraph excerpt: "Despite this progress, the Constitution, like any human creation, is not sacred or perfect – it too is defective. It was born through compromise and negotiation, embedding within it intentional ambiguities and contradictions."
From this paragraph, we see that the word "defective" is used in relation to the Constitution, implying that it is not perfect or flawless. This suggests that "defective" means having flaws or imperfections.
The evidence supporting this interpretation can be found in the statement that follows: "It was born through compromise and negotiation, embedding within it intentional ambiguities and contradictions." This further confirms that the Constitution was not created flawlessly but rather with various compromises, intentional ambiguities, and contradictions.
Therefore, taking into account the context and the specific evidence provided in the text, the definition of "defective" in this context is something that is flawed or imperfect.