Question

Pick out the most effective word(s) from the given words to fill in the blank to make the sentence meaningfully complete.
The miser gazed ...... at the pile of gold coins in front of him.

• A. avidly
• B. admiringly
• C. thoughtfully
• D. earnestly

Hint:

Use "avidly" to describe someone looking at something with intense eagerness or desire.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

A miser is characterised by greed, so the adverb describing how he looks at gold coins must carry that same intensity.
Admiringly suggests respect for beauty, and thoughtfully suggests calm reflection, both too mild for a miser's obsession.
Earnestly suggests sincerity of effort, which does not fit a gaze at treasure either.
Avidly captures the eager, greedy intensity that defines a miser's look at his gold, matching the character in the sentence.
So the correct answer is avidly.

Answer 2

Checking which adverb stays consistent with the well-established character trait of a "miser" across the sentence, rather than judging each word in isolation, narrows this down quickly.

1. avidly: A miser's defining trait is an intense, greedy attachment to wealth, and looking at coins "avidly" is entirely consistent with that established character.
2. admiringly: Admiration implies a degree of detached appreciation, which does not fit a miser, who is possessive and anxious about wealth rather than calmly admiring it.
3. thoughtfully: A thoughtful gaze suggests calm consideration, inconsistent with the anxious, grasping nature typically associated with a miser.
4. earnestly: Earnestness implies sincerity of purpose in an activity, which does not naturally describe the act of gazing at one's own hoarded coins.

Matching the adverb to the well-known character of a miser confirms that only "avidly" stays true to that portrayal.

Therefore, the correct answer is avidly.