Question

read the following thesaurus entry.

humble

adjective
definition: not acting superior
synonyms: shy, down-to-earth, modest, low in rank
antonyms: aggressive, confident, boastful

in which sentence would the word \humble\ best be replaced by the word \modest\?

• humble pluto was once considered a planet, but is now only a dwarf planet.
• the humble child sat by herself in the corner of the room.
• the experience will surely humble most individuals.
• his humble attitude made it easy for everyone to like him.

Explanation:

Analyze the thesaurus entry and target word

The thesaurus entry defines the adjective "humble" as "not acting superior." Its listed synonyms are "shy," "down-to-earth," "modest," and "low in rank." We need to find the sentence where "humble" can best be replaced by "modest" while maintaining the meaning of "not acting superior" or showing a lack of conceit/vanity.

Evaluate the sentence options

• Option 1: "Humble Pluto was once considered a planet..." Here, "humble" means low in rank, small, or insignificant. Replacing it with "modest" (in the sense of not acting superior) does not fit well.
• Option 2: "The humble child sat by herself in the corner of the room." Here, "humble" is closer to "shy" or "withdrawn."
• Option 3: "The experience will surely humble most individuals." In this sentence, "humble" is used as a verb, not an adjective.
• Option 4: "His humble attitude made it easy for everyone to like him." Here, "humble attitude" directly refers to an attitude of "not acting superior" or being unassuming, which perfectly matches the definition of "modest."

Select the best option

Option 4 is the best fit because "modest attitude" perfectly conveys a lack of boastfulness or superiority, aligning with the provided definition.

Answer:

• Humble Pluto was once considered a planet, but is now only a dwarf planet.
• The humble child sat by herself in the corner of the room.
• The experience will surely humble most individuals.
• His humble attitude made it easy for everyone to like him. (Correct answer)