The other day we heard someone smilingly refer to poets as dreamers. Now, it…
2023
The other day we heard someone smilingly refer to poets as dreamers. Now, it is accurate to refer to poets as dreamers, but it is not discerning to infer, as this person did, that the dreams of poets have no practical value beyond the realm of literary diversion, The truth is that poets are just as practical as people who build bridges or look into microscopes, and just as close to reality and truth. Where they differ from the logician and the scientist is in the temporal sense alone; they are ahead of their time, whereas logicians and scientists are abreast with their time. We must not be so superficial that we fail to discern the practicability of dreams.
What is the meaning of the word discern as used in the passage?
- A.
To perceive
- B.
To anticipate
- C.
To neglect
- D.
To disregard.
Attempted by 98 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Correct answer: To perceive
Explanation –
Discern means to perceive, recognize, or distinguish something clearly, especially by the intellect or the senses.
In the passage, the phrase "but it is not discerning to infer...that the dreams of poets have no practical value" means it is not perceptive to conclude that poets' dreams lack practical significance.
Therefore, "To perceive" best captures the meaning of 'discern' in this context.