The Captain's Seafood Restaurant can ________ seat up to twenty guests ...

[niue]

Hi! I read the following in a TOEIC book:

Q. The Captain’s Seafood Restaurant can ________ seat up to twenty guests in its Starboard Lounge.

A. spaciously
B. comfortably
C. abundantly
D. evenly

Answer: B. comfortably
(Source: ETS TOEIC Official Prep Book [Publisher: YBM])

As you know, ‘comfortably’ has two different usages:

1. in a comfortable way
Ex. All the rooms were comfortably furnished.
Ex. If you're all sitting comfortably, then I'll begin.
Ex. You should be able to live comfortably on your allowance.

2. with no problem
SYNONYM easily
Ex. He can comfortably afford the extra expense.
Ex. They are comfortably ahead in the opinion polls.
(Source: Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary)

The book says the meaning of ‘comfortably’ in the question is #1.
However, I think the meaning of it is #2, not #1.
What do you think?

Thanks in advance.

 

[teechar]

Can you please cite properly the book you referred to?

 

[jutfrank]

As you know, ‘comfortably’ has two different usages:

1. in a comfortable way
Ex. All the rooms were comfortably furnished.
Ex. If you're all sitting comfortably, then I'll begin.
Ex. You should be able to live comfortably on your allowance.

2. with no problem
SYNONYM easily
Ex. He can comfortably afford the extra expense.
Ex. They are comfortably ahead in the opinion polls. ((Source: Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary))

This is not a great dictionary entry, in my opinion. Look at this example:

You should be able to live comfortably on your allowance.

What do you think this sentence means? Is it about living in a physically comfortable way? Or about living with no problem?

The two usages listed here are not essentially different but just two ways of saying the same basic thing. If one is physically uncomfortable, then this counts as a problem. A much better way to understand the difference in meaning here is that the word 'comfortable' is sometimes used in a literal sense, relating to physical comfort of the body, and sometimes in a metaphorical sense.

The TOEIC sentence is saying that if the restaurant seats more than twenty guests, the lack of physical space will cause problems of physical discomfort (the diners will be squished in their seats) but also that the waiters will have difficulty moving around the lounge.

 

[niue]

Can you please cite properly the book you referred to?

I already did. Please check the ((Source: ...)) part.

 

[teechar]

The book says the meaning of ‘comfortably’ in the question is #1.
However, I think the meaning of it is #2, not #1.
What do you think?

I agree with you. I think it might be a misprint. Does the book go on to explain the choice? Can you take a picture of the relevant part and post it below?