) I was disappointed when I found out that had to live in the countryside last summer. (2) My grandmother was suddenly ill, and my mother arranged to work remotely while taking care of her. (3) I understood and heard my mother’s decision, but I knew I was going to miss my city and friends all summer.

Question

(4) My grandparents lived in a ranch a few miles outside the nearest small town. (5) To my surprise, the peacefulness of the countryside was relaxing. (6) We ate fresh produce and lived under the clearest of night skies. (7) I could hear crickets and birds but no horns or tire screeches. (8) Sometimes I forgot all about the city noises. (9) The city life felt far away.

(10) I read on the porch and the tire swing and next to my grandmother’s bed. (11) She enjoyed hearing me read to her. (12) Once a week, my grandfather took me to town to pick up supplies. (13) He would let me wander in the library while he shopped around. (14) There I met some other city kids on vacation. (15) I even found someone from my city right there in the nonfiction aisle. (16) Julie and the other kids and I decided to meet up on Tuesdays. (17) The library offered me more than books to read to my grandmother.

(18) My grandmother’s health improved, and her demand of my book narration also increased. (19) I picked up poetry as well as plays from the library to try different voices to read to my grandmother. (20) Hearing her laugh was better than the morning calls of birds outside my window. (21) My grandmother and I brought down the house with our laughter. (22) My mother would pop in from the home office. (23) The look of satisfaction on my mother’s face was priceless.

(24) When August came around and it was time to leave the country, I was sad and unprepared. (25) My grandmother was almost back to her old self. (26) She said that I could come back for every holiday and for the entire summer again. (27) I decided that I would do just that.

Question
Zubina has not used the MOST effective word in sentence 3. Which word should replace heard in this sentence?
Responses
A likedliked
B disagreeddisagreed
C respectedrespected
D listened listened

Answer 1

In sentence 3, the most effective word to replace "heard" is C respected.

The sentence would then read: "I understood and respected my mother’s decision, but I knew I was going to miss my city and friends all summer."

This conveys a deeper understanding of and appreciation for her mother's choice rather than simply indicating that she heard it.