Ease Into Prep with a GRE^® Question of the Day

Read the sentence, looking for clues

The daughter's "interest in performance arts" is described as "novel," and the blank describes her "passion for music."

Predict an answer

Since music is a performance art, the missing word will mean something similar to "new."

Select the choice that most closely matches your prediction

(B) nascent means "emerging," which fits the prediction and is correct. (A) tentative, which means "hesitant" or "not confirmed" is unsupported by the context; there is nothing in the sentence to suggest that the daughter is "hesitant" about her newfound love of music. (C) faltering, or "unsteady," is incorrect for the same reason as (A). (D) juvenile, meaning "youthful" or "immature," carries a slightly negative connotation that does not fit the context. (E) prescient, or "having foreknowledge,” is unsupported by any details in the sentence.

Check your answer

While they were aware that their daughter's novel interest in performance arts might not develop into a career, the parents did everything they could to encourage their child's nascent passion for music, including buying her a piano.

TAKEAWAY: Don't pick a negative word when there's no support for it.