Excerpt from The College Admission Process
Erin Sullivan
7 What does this mean for juniors starting the college admission process? Simply put, don't worry. There are many postsecondary
institutions looking for intelligent, hardworking high school graduates who make positive contributions to their communities.
While these colleges may not have the same reputations as illustrious institutions such as Harvard, they are well-respected
places of higher education. These schools can offer a meaningful educational experience and exceptional preparation for the
professional world.
What is the meaning of the word illustrious as used in the last paragraph?
A)
colored
B)
famous
C)
larger
D)
older

Illustrious in this context refers to famous because the speaker is comparing the reputations of the institutions being talked about to that of Harvard.

Harvard is a household name which means that they have a famous reputation for being a certain type of school. In comparing that reputation to that of the institutions being spoken of, the speaker concedes that their reputation is not as famous as that of Harvard.