The following text is adapted from Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 1837 story “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment.” The main character, a physician, is experimenting with rehydrating a dried flower.

Question

At first [the rose] lay lightly on the surface of the fluid, appearing to imbibe none of its moisture. Soon, however, a singular change began to be visible. The crushed and dried petals stirred and assumed a deepening tinge of crimson, as if the flower were reviving from a deathlike slumber.
As used in the text, what does the phrase “a singular” most nearly mean?
Choose 1 answer:
Choose 1 answer:
(Choice A) A lonely
A
A lonely
(Choice B) A disagreeable
B
A disagreeable
(Choice C) An acceptable
C
An acceptable
(Choice D) An extraordinary
D
An extraordinary

Answer 1

The phrase “a singular” in the context of the text most nearly means "an extraordinary." Therefore, the correct answer is:

(Choice D) An extraordinary