SAT OwlQuestion bank / Words in Context
The following text is from a 1903 novel by Margery Thwaite. Thomas has just been offered a job in London.
Thomas had expected his father to forbid the move outright. Instead, the old man listened without interrupting, asked two or three questions about the salary and the lodgings, and then said only that he supposed a young man must see something of the world. His response was so ______ that Thomas, who had rehearsed a dozen arguments on the walk home, had nothing to do but thank him.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
furious
mild
secretive
hasty
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B
Thomas expected anger, but his father listens calmly, asks a few practical questions, and accepts the plan. A calm, gentle response is "mild," which is why Thomas has no use for his prepared arguments.
Choice A is what Thomas expected, but the text describes the opposite of what he feared.
Why the other choices are wrong
- A. The father listens without interrupting and accepts the plan, the opposite of furious.
- C. The father states his view openly, so nothing about his response is secretive.
- D. He listens fully and asks questions before answering, so his response isn't hasty.
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