PSAT Reading Question 172: Answer and Explanation

Question: 172

As used in line 23, "circumvent" most nearly means

• A. destroy.
• B. get around.
• C. ignore.
• D. compete with.

Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

B

Difficulty: Medium

Category: Vocab-in-Context

Getting to the Answer: You should be able to replace the original word with the correct answer in the sentence. The passage states that in order to "circumvent" the monopoly, European growers tried growing their own tea. It makes sense that Europeans' attempt at growing their own tea was a way to "get around" the Chinese monopoly. Therefore, (B) is the best choice.