SAT OwlQuestion bank / Words in Context
Audiences expected the director's film adaptation of the beloved novel to follow the book closely. Instead, she took considerable ______ with the source material, moving the story from 1850s London to present-day Lagos and inventing several new characters.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
liberties
precautions
shortcuts
offense
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A
The director moved the setting and invented characters, departing freely from the novel. To "take liberties" with a work means to change it freely, so "liberties" fits.
Choice C, "shortcuts," suggests cutting corners to save effort, but relocating the story and adding characters are bold changes, not ways of saving work.
Why the other choices are wrong
- B. Taking precautions means acting carefully to prevent harm or error. The director made bold creative changes rather than taking careful steps to avoid mistakes.
- C. Shortcuts imply cutting corners to save time or effort. Relocating the setting and inventing characters are significant creative choices, not ways of reducing work.
- D. Taking offense means feeling insulted or angry. The director actively changed the story, which is a creative act, not a reaction to being offended by the source material.
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