Question

read the passage and then answer the question. harry houdini was famous for his escape tricks. he could escape after being tied up with ropes and handcuffs. he traveled the world doing his act. in one trick, his feet were tied together and he was hung upside down in a full tank of water. in front of big crowds, houdini always managed to get out. people couldnt figure out how he did it. in germany, the police said houdini was a sham. so he agreed to a test to prove his act was real. houdini allowed the police to put him in chains and handcuffs. then, in front of three hundred police officers, he freed himself. what is the meaning of sham as used in the passage? fool fake troublemaker hero

Explanation:

The context shows that the police doubted Houdini's act was real. "Sham" should mean something contrary to "real". "Fake" (not genuine) fits this context as it implies the police thought his act was not real. "Fool" means a silly person, "troublemaker" means someone who causes trouble, and "hero" is a person admired for brave deeds. None of these fit the context as well as "fake".

Answer:

B. fake