Directions: Choose appropriate meaning of the words in bold as per their contextual use.

The owners of these factories were motivated by cupidity and paid workers as little as possible.

Cupidity is a formal word for greed, specifically an intense desire for wealth or material possessions. The context of factory owners paying workers as little as possible to maximize profits clearly demonstrates greed for money. 'Greed' is the correct meaning. 'Selfishness' is too broad, 'stinginess' implies reluctance to spend rather than active desire to acquire, and 'ignorance' doesn't fit at all.