Sometimes shopkeepers store essential goods to create false scarcity and then sell these in black. (Guess the meaning of the word 'black' in this sentence.)
In this sentence, 'black' means illegally or at unfairly high prices (black market).
Explanation
The textbook context shows that 'black' has different meanings in different contexts. In sentence 5, the context is about shopkeepers creating false scarcity. When someone sells goods 'in black', it refers to selling them illegally or at unfairly inflated prices in the black market. This meaning is distinct from other uses of 'black' in the provided examples, such as 'without milk' (black tea), 'without hope' (black future), or 'without light' (black clouds).
Solution Steps
Step 1: Identify the context - shopkeepers creating false scarcity
Step 2: Infer that selling 'in black' refers to an illegal or unfair practice
Step 3: Connect 'black' to the concept of black market or illegal trading