Is 'massacred' to be used for number of people only?

[Lola]

Synonyms Lesson, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #114 "Synonyms for kill and murder", question 9

A lot of Indian villages were ......... after white men settled in the new continent.

(a) executed
(b) killed
(c) massacred
(d) dispatched

Synonyms Lesson, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #114 "Synonyms for kill and murder", answer 9

A lot of Indian villages were massacred after white men settled in the new continent.

Correct answer: (c) massacred

Your answer was: incorrect
A lot of Indian villages were dispatched after white men settled in the new continent.
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Is massacred to be used for number of people only?

Lola

[Yankee]

Good question, Lola.

The word 'massacre' means "the unnecessary, indiscriminate killing of a large number of human beings or animals."

The test sentence talks about whole villages (of people and animals) that were killed.

Here is a dictionary link:
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=massacre&r=66

Amy
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English