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 synonym

The thesaurus entry defines the adjective "humble" as "not acting superior." Its synonyms include "shy," "down-to-earth," "modest," and "low in rank." We need to find the sentence where "humble" is used in the sense of "modest" (not acting superior, unassuming, or moderate in estimation).

Evaluate each sentence option

• Option 1: "Humble Pluto was once considered a planet, but is now only a dwarf planet." Here, "humble" means low in rank, scale, or importance, rather than "modest" in behavior.
• 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 Here, "humble" is closer to "shy" or "withdrawn."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." Here, "humble" is used as a verb meaning to lower in dignity or importance, not as the adjective "modest."
• Option 4: "His humble attitude made it easy for everyone to like him." Here, "humble" describes an attitude of not acting superior, which perfectly matches the definition of "modest."

Select the best fit

Replacing "humble" with "modest" in the fourth sentence ("His modest attitude...") maintains the exact intended meaning of having an unassuming, non-superior demeanor.

Answer:

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