Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

The once-thriving town became ______ after the factory closed, its streets empty and its shops shuttered.

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: C. desolate

- 'crowded' contradicts the textual description of 'streets empty'.
- 'prosperous' means flourishing financially, the exact opposite of what occurs after the main employer shuts down.
- 'festive' implies cheerful celebration, which directly conflicts with empty streets and shuttered shops.
  1. Step 1: Examine the descriptive details: 'once-thriving', 'streets empty', and 'shops shuttered.'
  2. Step 2: These clues depict an abandoned, barren, and deserted town.
  3. Step 3: Select desolate, which precisely means deserted of people and in a state of bleak emptiness.
Answer
desolate.

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