Question

Fill in the blank with a suitable word:
The miser gazed __________ at the pile of gold coins in front of him.
a. Avidly
b. Admiringly
c. Thoughtfully
d. Earnestly

Answer 1

Hint: You must logically choose the option that fits how misers behave. Misers are obsessed with collecting more money.

Complete answer:

Let us consider the sentence given above. The sentence deals with a miser. A miser is a person who dislikes spending money. Misers tend to hoard money and forego physical comforts to hoard as much money as possible.
Now that we know who a miser is, we must select one such attribute of a miser that can fit the given question. From what we have seen so far, we can understand that misers seem to regard money with greed.
Let us see which of the options can encompass the scope of greed and miserliness.
Option a ‘avidly’ means with great interest or enthusiasm. It is possible that a miser can regard gold coins with interest. Therefore, this is the correct answer.
Option b ‘admiringly’ means in a way that shows respect. This doesn’t match the attribute of a miser. It is absurd that a miser looks at gold coins with respect. Therefore, it is an incorrect answer.
Option c ‘thoughtfully’ means being absorbed in thought. This doesn’t match the attribute of a miser. It is unlikely that a miser will look at gold coins in a thoughtful manner. Therefore, it is an incorrect answer.
Option d ‘earnestly’ means seriously or sincerely. This doesn’t match the attribute of a miser. It is unlikely that a miser will look at gold coins seriously. Therefore, it is an incorrect answer.

Note: Avidly shows a keen interest whereas earnestly shows a sincere disposition.