Question
Texas grew quickly because of transportation and the discovery of valuable resources. Areas near waterways or with railroad stops nearby thrived. By the 1880s, largely driven by railroad growth, 20 cities of 4,000 or more residents had developed in Texas.
Which word, if it replaced the word "thrived" in the paragraph, would CHANGE the meaning of the paragraph?
blossomed
collapsed
flourished
prospered
Which word, if it replaced the word "thrived" in the paragraph, would CHANGE the meaning of the paragraph?
blossomed
collapsed
flourished
prospered
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The word "collapsed" would CHANGE the meaning of the paragraph if it replaced the word "thrived." While "thrived," "blossomed," "flourished," and "prospered" all convey a sense of growth and success, "collapsed" implies failure and decline, which is the opposite of the intended meaning.