This means the politician is highly

Step 1: Analyze the question The sentence is "The old politician is held in high regard by members of his community." We need the word that best captures what "held in high regard" means.

Step 2: Explain the concept The idiom to hold someone in high regard means to have great admiration and esteem for that person. It is about the opinion people have of him: they think well of him and look up to him.

Step 3: Test each option

• A. dreaded: This means feared greatly, which is a negative feeling. It doesn't fit "regard."
• B. feared: This is also about fear, not admiration.
• C. honored: This is close. But "honored" usually describes a person who has been given a formal recognition or award, such as an honor or a title. It is more of an action than an attitude.
• D. recommended: This means suggested for a job or position. It has nothing to do with regard.
• E. respected: This means admired and esteemed. It is the direct synonym of "held in high regard."

Step 4: Choose the best answer "Honored" is a tempting second choice, but "respected" is the most precise match for "held in high regard." It describes the attitude of the community, which is exactly what the sentence is about.

Answer: E. respected

Exam tip: In interpretation questions, replace the phrase in the sentence with each option and see which one keeps the meaning exactly. Also learn similar idioms: look up to = respect, think highly of = respect, look down on = despise.