Teacher Discussion Forums

There is one question in a test that I have to apply. I think both answers are correct.

Students taking the test have to choose the meaning of deep between intense or going down from the top. What do you think? Below is the text and where you find the word in context.





"HEAVY RAINS BRING DEVASTATING FLOODS TO CHILE BY SEAN BATTY



At least 12 people have been killed and many others missing after heavy rains across southern parts of Chile triggered swollen rivers to overflow, and landslides to occur on Wednesday.



The government on viewing the situation in Chiguayante declared it in a state of emergency.



The intense rainfall allowed many rivers in the south of the country to burst their banks, including Bio River, which is one of Chile's biggest waterways. Power lines and roads were cut off in some towns, rail services interrupted, and deep waters flowed through the streets of the southern city of Los Angeles and the port of Valparaiso.



Nearly 1,000 people in the south of the country have been evacuated, and are in shelter waiting for river leves to go down again.



More heavy showers are expected over the next few days before things setlle back down."



Thanks



José

The answer IMHO is 'deep as in depth from top to bottom' - I'd view the 'intense' meaning as being at most a "distractor" (and not a very good one, given that 'deep' is surely a more basic word and given quite the paraphrase there, in comparison to 'intense'!); that is, I doubt that there is an 'intense' meaning to 'deep' in the lexicon.

But deep waters will certainly be dangerous, swift, raging etc, and one can imagine someone rescued saying, 'Wow, that (=the general situtaion I was in) was intense!'.

The trouble with multiple choice tests is often that they look for the best answer amongst a number of answers which are very plausible, and thus test the ability to be a subtle test taker as much as testing the real meat of the subject at hand.

I agree with FH though, that deep top-to-bottom is the best answer.