The following text is adapted from a 1920 travelogue by explorer Arthur H. Clark. He describes looking through a piece of glass.
The window pane was so pristine that it was almost invisible, and when we looked through it at the garden, the flowers seemed to be floating directly before our eyes, undistorted by any barrier.
As used in the text, what does the word "pristine" most nearly mean?
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
Simple
Understandable
Obvious
Transparent
Correct Answer: D
Choice D is the best answer. The text describes the glass as "almost invisible" and states the flowers seemed to be "undistorted by any barrier." This implies one could see right through it. "Transparent" means allowing light to pass through so that objects behind can be distinctly seen.
Choice A is incorrect because "simple" means plain or uncomplicated. Choice B is incorrect because "understandable" refers to comprehension, not visual clarity. Choice C is incorrect because "obvious" means easily perceived, but the glass itself was "almost invisible."