Question 88·Easy·Words in Context
Jamila was initially nervous about presenting her research to the panel, but the judges' ______ nods throughout her talk reassured her that she was communicating clearly.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
For Words-in-Context questions, first ignore the choices and paraphrase what kind of word the blank needs using clues from the sentence—especially contrast words (like “but”), cause-and-effect, and emotional tone words (like “reassured,” “worried,” “excited”). Decide if the missing word should be positive or negative, strong or weak, etc. Then test each option in the sentence and eliminate any that clash with the overall meaning or tone, even if they are grammatically correct. This “context first, choices second” method is faster and more accurate than trying to match dictionary definitions alone.
Hints
Use the contrast in the sentence
Pay attention to the word “but”: Jamila was initially nervous, but the judges’ nods changed how she felt. What kind of nods would create that change?
Focus on the word “reassured”
The sentence says the nods “reassured her that she was communicating clearly.” Ask yourself: did the nods make her feel more confident or more doubtful?
Match each option to the effect on Jamila
For each answer choice, imagine what that kind of nod would look like during a presentation. Would that reaction from the judges calm a nervous presenter and make her feel sure she was doing well, or not?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the situation and tone
Jamila starts out nervous about presenting, but something changes: the judges’ nods reassured her and showed her she was communicating clearly. This means the nods are a positive signal that makes her feel better and more confident.
Decide what kind of word is needed
The blank describes the judges’ nods. Since those nods reassured Jamila and showed her that her talk was clear, the word in the blank must describe nods that are clearly helpful and positive, not negative, unclear, or weak.
Test and eliminate incorrect options
Go through each option and ask, “Would this kind of nod reassure a nervous speaker?”
- Confusing nods would make her less sure she was clear.
- Minimal nods (very few or very small) would not strongly reassure her.
- Reluctant nods show hesitation or unwillingness, not clear approval.
All three clash with the idea that the nods reassured her and showed she was communicating clearly, so they should be eliminated.
Confirm the remaining option fits perfectly
The remaining option, “encouraging,” describes nods that give support and confidence, which matches the way the nods reassured Jamila and showed her she was presenting clearly. Therefore, the correct answer is D) encouraging.