PSAT Reading Question 314: Answer and Explanation

Question: 314

The narrator can best be described as a/an

• A. anxious explorer.
• B. adventurous misanthrope.
• C. imaginative observer.
• D. rebellious pedestrian.

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

(C) The narrator is recounting her experiences as a young child, enjoying the unusual freedom of exploring a boardwalk. As she observes various things on the boardwalk, she imagines herself to be a soldier or like someone from an adventure novel. So she can best be described as an imaginative observer. The correct answer is not choice (A) because she does not demonstrate a consistent level of anxiety; rather, she finds the looming danger thrilling. It is not choice (B) because a misanthrope is someone who does not like people while she is enjoying the interactions with and observations of people. The answer is not choice (D) because she is far more than a mere pedestrian, i.e., someone who is walking along.