With her sharp business acumen, Sarah was able to turn a small, struggling bookstore into a highly profitable and successful enterprise.
As used in the passage, the word acumen most nearly means...
- a large amount of money
- a friendly and welcoming personality
- the ability to make good judgments (correct answer)
- a deep love for literature
Explanation: When you encounter vocabulary questions on the HSPT reading exam, use context clues from the surrounding sentence to determine meaning. The passage tells us that Sarah's "sharp business acumen" enabled her to transform a struggling bookstore into a profitable enterprise. The correct answer is C because "acumen" refers to keen insight and the ability to make sound business decisions. The context supports this: Sarah used her sharp judgment and decision-making skills to turn around a failing business. The word "sharp" before "acumen" reinforces that this is about mental keenness, not physical possessions or personality traits. Let's examine why the other options don't fit. Choice A suggests "acumen" means money, but the passage indicates Sarah used her acumen to generate profit, not that she already had money to invest. Choice B proposes a friendly personality, but while good customer service might help a bookstore, the emphasis on "sharp" and "business" suggests analytical skills rather than social warmth. Choice D focuses on loving literature, but you could love books deeply yet still lack the business skills needed to run a profitable bookstore. For vocabulary questions like this, pay attention to descriptive words that modify the unknown term. "Sharp business acumen" points toward mental agility and business sense. Also, consider what logically would cause the described outcome—turning a struggling business profitable requires good judgment and decision-making ability, not just money, personality, or passion for the product.