Select the sentence containing the homonym of the highlighted word:
The tripos system at Cambridge remains a model of academic rigor.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
The correct answer is option 3 i.e. “The ceremonial tripos stool toppled during the investiture.
The highlighted word “tripos” in the original sentence refers to the Cambridge University examination system—a formal set of exams for undergraduate degrees.
However, “tripos” also has another historical meaning at Cambridge:
It refers to a three-legged wooden stool used in academic ceremonies, especially by the “tripos speaker.”
This second meaning is the homonym—a word spelled the same but with a different meaning.
Why option 3 is correct:
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“The ceremonial tripos stool toppled…” clearly refers to the three-legged ceremonial stool, not the exam system.
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All other options (1, 2, 4) use “tripos” only in the sense of academic examination.
Hence, Option 3 contains the homonym of the highlighted word.