8. The new disinfecting protocols superseded earlier practices once scientists understood the nature of communicable illness. As used in the sentence above, superseded means
Answer: D
Superseded means took the place of.
In the context of the sentence, "superseded" indicates that the new disinfecting protocols replaced the earlier practices once a better understanding of communicable illness was achieved.
A) were accepted.
This option is incorrect because "were accepted" implies that the earlier practices continued to exist alongside the new protocols, rather than being replaced by them. Acceptance does not convey the idea of replacement inherent in the term "superseded."
B) combined with.
This option is also incorrect as "combined with" suggests that the new protocols and earlier practices were used together or in conjunction. This does not reflect the meaning of "superseded," which indicates a complete replacement rather than a combination.
C) were supported by.
This choice is inaccurate because "were supported by" implies that the earlier practices provided assistance or validation to the new protocols. This does not align with the meaning of "superseded," which indicates that the newer protocols took precedence over the older ones.
D) took the place of.
This option is the correct interpretation of "superseded." It clearly conveys that the new disinfecting protocols replaced the previous practices, aligning perfectly with the context of the sentence regarding the evolution of understanding of communicable illness.
Conclusion
The correct answer, "took the place of," accurately captures the intended meaning of "superseded" as it indicates the new protocols replaced earlier practices. The other options fail to convey this sense of replacement, instead suggesting acceptance, combination, or support, which do not reflect the actual relationship between the new and old disinfecting protocols.