Question

read the paragraph, then choose the word that best completes the sentence. a new kind of shoe has become popular across the united states. barefoot shoes, also called minimalist shoes, are designed with as little material around the foot as possible. many of the shoes wrap around each toe separately. the idea behind the shoes is to make better use of the bodys natural motions—humans were made to run in bare feet. some runners say that the new design has helped reduce injuries. traditional shoes can limit how a person moves. that is why running shoes can sometimes contribute to injuries in the feet, ankles, shins, knees, or hips. the new style is ______. a mechanical b advantageous c oversized d formal

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option A: "mechanical" implies something related to machines or mechanics. The new shoe style is about using natural motions, not mechanical aspects, so A is incorrect.
• Option B: "advantageous" means beneficial. The passage states the new design (barefoot shoes) has helped reduce injuries, showing it has benefits. This fits.
• Option C: "oversized" means larger than normal. The passage says the shoes have as little material as possible, so they aren't oversized. C is incorrect.
• Option D: "formal" refers to being proper or official, which doesn't relate to the shoe's design for natural motion and injury reduction. D is incorrect.

Answer:

B. advantageous