On the sidewalk, a woman in a hard hat ______ the work, holding a rolled drawing under one arm and pointing…

Vocabulary and Grammar in Context · ELPAC Grades 11–12 reading. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.

Extra practice, not a separate task on the real test: a sentence with one word missing, testing the vocabulary and grammar the passages assume.

Look at the picture, then answer the questions.

Read image description

A half-finished building stands behind a chain-link fence. A crane is lowering a steel beam toward the third floor, where two workers lean out and reach for it with gloved hands. On the sidewalk below, a woman in a hard hat holds a rolled drawing under one arm and points up at the beam. A flatbed truck loaded with more beams waits at the curb.

The question

Look at the picture. Then choose the word that best completes the sentence about it.

On the sidewalk, a woman in a hard hat ______ the work, holding a rolled drawing under one arm and pointing up at the beam.

• Aobstructs
• Babandons
• Cimitates
• DsupervisesCorrect answer

Why “supervises” is correct

This tests choosing a precise verb by inferring a role from details in the picture. The hard hat, the construction drawing and the pointing all mark the woman as someone directing the job rather than doing the lifting, and 'supervises' means to watch over and direct work. The student has to infer her role, because the picture never names it.

Why the other answers are wrong

• obstructs — 'Obstructs' means blocks or gets in the way; she is on the sidewalk below, not in anyone's way.
• abandons — 'Abandons' means leaves behind, but she is present and actively pointing at the beam.
• imitates — 'Imitates' means copies someone else's actions, which describes nothing in the scene.

Practice more of this

More reading practice for Grades 11–12, or see the ELPAC practice test for grades 11–12. For other grades, see free ELPAC practice tests by grade.