Question of the Day #2

The ……. play caused me to squirm in my seat, but she began to ……. her eyes in a way that irritated me.

A. delirious, spot
B. grin, wet
C. disastrous, damp
D. maudlin, daub

Answer: maudlin, daub

The author suggests that the play was so maudlin (effusivety sentimental) that it made him uncomfortable in his seat but when he saw her daub her eyes (wipe the tears off her eyes) instead, irritated him.

Option (A) is incorrect because a play cannot be delirious (slightly unconscious/very excited).

Option (B) is incorrect because the first blank needs to be filled by an adjective while ‘grin’ (a broad smile/to smile broadly) can be used as a verb and a noun but is not an adjective.

Option (C) is incorrect because the second blank needs a verb while ‘damp’ is an adjective.