Question

in order to listen to louder, more obnoxious vo(三)t ← → taunt us from outside ourselves. they can lead us in directions we never should have ventured if we were honest with ourselves.
after i earned a masters degree in communications, my husband and i moved to flagstaff, arizona. we were immediately struck by the beauty of the san francisco peaks that are the pride of many who live there. not too long after we settled in, we journeyed the hour and ten minutes to the grand canyon. the magnitude and grandeur of this natural wonder is spectacular.
during our visit we commented to each other how the colors, unlike the deserts browns and dull greens, were an elegant mix of reds, pinks, and yellows. the visible layers of the rock served as a metaphor for the life experiences we each held. in high school, i was standing on top of the rocks, but no incisions had been made—no canyon had been formed. there was a river and it was flowing, but i did not see the layers beneath. throughout the years to the present moment i am slowly allowing the river to cut through the rock of my past experiences. i have faith that in the end that process will reveal magnificent layers that inspire rather than repress and remain buried. it takes time to excavate a past, but it is well worth it.
in paragraph 4, what does grandeur most nearly mean?
a elegance
b magnificence
c sophistication
d shapeliness

Explanation:

The word "grandeur" is used in the context of describing the Grand Canyon. "Magnificence" is a synonym that fits well as it conveys the idea of something being grand and impressive. "Elegance" is more about grace and refinement in a more delicate sense. "Sophistication" is about being complex and refined in a more intellectual or worldly way. "Shapeliness" is about having a good shape. The Grand Canyon's "magnitude and grandeur" implies a sense of being large - scale and impressive, which "magnificence" captures.

Answer:

B. Magnificence