24. Select the meaning of the underlined word in this sentence: The topic of discussion prompted a *cornucopia* of stimulating questions and conversation.
Answer: D
The word *cornucopia* means a plethora of stimulating questions and conversation.
The term *cornucopia* refers to an abundance or a large quantity of something, which in this context relates to the stimulating questions and conversation that arose from the topic of discussion.
A) Ostracism
Ostracism refers to exclusion from a society or group, which is entirely unrelated to the concept of having a large number of stimulating questions. Thus, this option is incorrect.
B) Pensive
Pensive describes a state of being deep in thought, often with a tinge of sadness. This does not align with the notion of abundance or variety implied by *cornucopia*, making this option incorrect as well.
C) Laborious
Laborious means requiring considerable effort and time, which does not correspond to the idea of a rich variety of inquiries and discussions. Therefore, this option is also incorrect.
D) Plethora
Plethora signifies a large or excessive amount of something, which perfectly captures the essence of the word *cornucopia* in this context. This option is correct as it conveys a similar meaning of abundance in relation to stimulating questions and conversation.
Conclusion
The correct answer, *plethora*, accurately reflects the meaning of *cornucopia* as an abundance of stimulating questions and conversation. All other options fail to convey this sense of richness and variety, making them unsuitable in this context. Thus, option D is the definitive choice.