Question

read this sentences.
when exceptional outfielder sterling abelson becomes a free agent at the end of the season, many teams will want to sign him to a contract. it is an open secret among sportswriters, however, that abelson will be playing for his hometown next year.
which of these best states the meaning of the underlined oxymoron in the sentences?
○ a secret that is revealed publicly in a dramatic way
○ a secret that would cause embarrassment if it were known
○ knowledge that was once widely shared but has become secret
○ information that is supposed to be secret but is actually known to many

Explanation:

An oxymoron combines contradictory terms. "Open secret" means information meant to be secret but widely known. Let's analyze options:

• Option 1: Focuses on dramatic revelation, not contradiction. Eliminate.
• Option 2: Focuses on embarrassment, not the oxymoron's core. Eliminate.
• Option 3: Describes knowledge shifting from shared to secret, opposite of "open secret". Eliminate.
• Option 4: Matches "open secret" (supposed to be secret but known to many).

Answer:

D. information that is supposed to be secret but is actually known to many (assuming the last option is D; if the last option's identifier is the fourth circle, then: "The fourth option (the one with 'information that is supposed to be secret but is actually known to many')")