PSAT Reading Question 75: Answer and Explanation

Question: 75

As used in line 76, "suffered" most nearly means

• A. endured.
• B. allowed.
• C. tolerated.
• D. endorsed.

Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

B

The question asks what the word suffered means in line 76. Go back to the text, find the word suffered, and highlight it. Carefully read the surrounding text to determine another word that would fit in its place, based on the context of the passage. The text says that mankind will move forward towards its goal. But I take up my task with buoyancy and hope. I feel sure that our cause will not be suffered to fail among men. Therefore, suffered must mean something like "permitted"—Churchill believes that their cause (victory in the war) will not fail. Both endured and tolerated mean "withstood suffering"; these are Could Be True trap answers that do not match "permitted." Eliminate (A) and (C). Allowed matches "permitted," so keep (B). Eliminate (D) because endorsed means "approved," which does not match "permitted" to fail. The correct answer is (B).