SAT OwlQuestion bank / Words in Context
The bee hummingbird, found only in Cuba, is the smallest bird in the world. An adult weighs less than two grams, lighter than a U.S. dime, and is so ______ that people sometimes mistake it for an insect.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
colorful
noisy
tiny
ancient
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C
The text says the bird is the smallest in the world and weighs less than a dime. Being mistaken for an insect follows from its size, so "tiny" is the logical word.
Choice A, "colorful," describes many hummingbirds, but color would not explain why people mistake the bird for an insect; its size would.
Why the other choices are wrong
- A. Color does not explain why people mistake the bird for an insect. The text emphasizes the bird's small size and weight, making size the logical cause for the confusion.
- B. Loudness would not make people mistake the bird for an insect. The text stresses the bird's size and weight, so the blank needs a word about how small it is.
- D. The age of the species is irrelevant to why people mistake the bird for an insect. The passage highlights the bird's minimal weight and status as the smallest bird in the world.
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