Introduction / Context:
The verb “conceive (of)” can have several senses in English. In everyday reflective statements, it often means “to imagine” or “to form a mental picture of.” The sentence expresses difficulty picturing a past period without a refrigerator, so we should pick the meaning that fits the cognitive, imaginative sense rather than biological or logical meanings.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Construction: conceive of + noun phrase.
- Speaker’s intent: mental visualization of a past condition.
- Domain: ordinary life, not biology or formal logic.
Concept / Approach:
“Conceive of” in philosophy can mean “to think of coherently,” and in everyday speech it collapses neatly to “imagine.” “Give birth” is another sense of “conceive,” but that is biological and does not fit the grammar (“conceive of a time”). “Understand” is close in intellectual contexts but lacks the vivid mental-imagery nuance strongly suggested here. “Depend” is unrelated and grammatically incompatible with the preposition “of.”
Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Note the prepositional pattern: conceive of + time/idea → imagine.2) Identify the communicative goal: picturing a life stage without an appliance.3) Select “Imagine” as the simplest accurate synonym.4) Discard senses of “conceive” that do not fit the construction or context.
Verification / Alternative check:
Substitute: “I cannot imagine a time when I was without a refrigerator.” The sentence is natural and conveys the same idea, confirming correctness.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Give birth: Biological meaning; incompatible with “of a time.”Understand: Does not emphasize mental imagery; weaker fit.Depend: Unrelated sense; wrong grammar.
Common Pitfalls:
Overgeneralizing “understand” as a blanket synonym for every cognitive verb. Here, “conceive of” foregrounds forming a mental picture—“imagine” is best.
Final Answer:
Imagine
Discussion & Comments