Question

read the following sentence from the text:

\despite her best attempts to squelch her nervousness, however, her hands were shaking with trepidation.\

which word could the author use to replace trepidation in the sentence without changing the tone or meaning?

a fervor
b excitement
c uneasiness
d contentedness

Explanation:

Analyze the context of the target word

The sentence from the text is: "Despite her best attempts to squelch her nervousness, however, her hands were shaking with trepidation."

Define the target word

"Trepidation" refers to a feeling of fear, alarm, or agitation about something that may happen. In this context, Lily is extremely nervous and terrified before her audition, so her hands are shaking with fear or anxiety.

Evaluate the options

• (A) fervor: intense and passionate feeling (incorrect)
• (B) excitement: a state of cheerful enthusiasm (incorrect)
• (C) uneasiness: a state of anxiety, discomfort, or apprehension (correct, matches "trepidation")
• (D) contentedness: a state of satisfaction and happiness (incorrect)

Answer:

• (A) fervor
• (B) excitement
• (C) uneasiness (Correct answer)
• (D) contentedness