Reassurance needs something behind it
Read for meaning first. Select a highlighted word if you want a closer look.
Residents were worried that a planned renovation would remove the small noticeboard where neighborhood groups advertised their events. The organizer tried to allay those fears by showing a drawing that included a replacement board near the entrance. As the details became clearer, the worried questions began to abate. A temporary display could also attenuate the effect of losing the old board during construction, although it would not offer exactly the same space or be available in precisely the same location.
The drawing helped allay the concern about permanent removal, but several people still wanted to know how notices would be handled during the change. Their questions did not fully abate until the organizer identified who would maintain the temporary display and when it would be installed. Those practical details could attenuate the disruption more effectively than another general assurance that everything would be fine. The residents left with a specific plan they could check against what actually happened when the work began.
Before you move on
Look away from the passage. Can you explain each focus word in your own words?
Original fictional passages for vocabulary practice.