The correct answer to what type of context clue can be used to determine the meaning of malleable is the second option, an antonym.
In this passage, opposing to the materials that were "malleable enough" mentioned, are the "others", that were "too hard to bend". The word "hard", by context, can be understood as the opposite of "malleable", and, therefore, its antonym. So, the meaning of malleable can be determined, according to the context, by its antonym.
The correct option couldn't be the first one, a synonym, because there are no words in the passage presented that could show the reader the meaning for the word malleable, no words that could have the same meaning as malleable, therefore, there is no presence of a synonym in this passage that could determine the meaning of malleable.
The correct option couldn't be the third one, a definition, because the word malleable is not explained nor defined in the passage. There is nothing that could clarify the meaning of this word by elucidation or signification, thus the word malleable wasn't determined by definition.
The correct option couldn't be the fourth one, an inference, because, although it can be possible, from an antonym, to infer the meaning of the word opposed to it, it was only by understanding its opposite that the world malleable could be determined. Therefore, the correct answer to what clue can determine the meaning of malleable couldn't be the fourth option, an inference.
Answer:
an inference
Explanation:
I just took the test. it is definitely an inference.
