OE


The blank is describing black bears…claws. The transition word [w]hile indicates that the claws of black bears are different from those of grizzly bears, which are described as long, flat, and somewhat blunt. Black bears’ claws are described in the sentence as short and curved, which are the
opposite of long and flat. Therefore, a good word for the blank is the opposite of somewhat blunt, so use “sharp” and evaluate the answer choices. Choice (A) obtuse is a synonym for blunt, so eliminate (A). Choice (B), abominable may describe a bear, but the word doesn’t mean “sharp” and so doesn’t match the clue, so eliminate (B). Choice (C), barren, is not a match for “sharp” so eliminate it. Choice (D), acute, is a good match for “sharp,” so keep (D). Choice (E), fearful does not match “sharp,” so eliminate it. The correct answer is (D)