PARCC Reading Comprehension Practice Test story 8

38. The people surrounding the queen encouraged her to spend money ______.

Correct! Wrong!

38. B: "Profusely" means abundantly, copiously, or excessively. It does not mean wisely (A) or carefully (B), which are both opposite in meaning to the excessive connotation of profuse spending. Foolishly (D) can be associated with spending profusely, but does not have the same meaning. Profusely does not mean joyfully (E), i.e. gleefully or happily.

39. The minister of finance tried to curb these royal ______.

Correct! Wrong!

39. B: "Spendthrifts" means money wasters. It does not mean aristocrats (A), i.e. nobles or privileged people. It does not mean enemies (C) or adversaries. It does not mean individuals (D) or persons. "Spenders" (E) denotes people who spend, but does not convey the sense of wasteful spending or squandering in the same way that "spendthrifts" does.