Question

what is the meaning of the word deplorable in the second letter?

fearful
unforgivable
unbearable
painful

reading passage
lovely sofia,
the living conditions in this city have made me homesick. the deplorable smells and sounds of this city make me yearn for our country village. i want only to get my hands in the dirt and work in our garden. i close my eyes and imagine our home: the sweet smell of basil and the taste of ripe figs, the song of the reed warbler at sunrise, your smiling face. but when i open my eyes, i smell the garbage that is left on the street, i taste coal in the air, and hear the sounds of the many people trying to sell their goods.

Explanation:

Locate the target word

The question asks for the meaning of "deplorable" in the passage. We find it in the sentence: "The deplorable smells and sounds of this city make me yearn for our country village."

Analyze surrounding context

Using Context Clues, we look at the writer's description of the city. The writer is "homesick" and contrasts the city with a peaceful village. Later, the writer describes the city's environment: "I smell the garbage that is left on the street, I taste coal in the air, and hear the sounds of the many people trying to sell their goods."

Evaluate the options

• "fearful": The smells and sounds are unpleasant, but they do not cause fear.
• "unforgivable": This usually describes bad actions or behavior, not sensory experiences like smells and sounds.
• "unbearable": The garbage smells, coal taste, and loud noises are extremely unpleasant and hard to tolerate, making them "unbearable."
• "painful": While highly unpleasant, smells and sounds themselves are not literally painful.

Determine the best fit

"Unbearable" perfectly captures how intolerable and deeply unpleasant the city's sensory environment is to the homesick writer.

Answer:

• (A) fearful
• (B) unforgivable
• (C) unbearable (Correct answer)
• (D) painful