Question

(14) I began my search at the mall. (15) I figured pretty much every store in the mall needed help. (16) Boy, was I wrong. (17) I guess every other sixteen-year-old got there before I did. (18) However, the day wasn’t over yet.

In sentence 15, figured is not the most effective word to use. Which of the following could replace figured in this sentence?
1) guessed
2) assumed
3) calculated
4) imagined

Answer 1

The best word to replace 'figured' in the given sentence is 'assumed,' since it implies an expectation or belief without concrete evidence, fitting the sentence's context.

Step-by-step explanation:

You asked for a more effective word to replace 'figured' in sentence 15, 'I figured pretty much every store in the mall needed help.' Among the options provided, assumed would be the best fit. This is because the context of the sentence suggests that the speaker had an expectation or belief that the stores would need help without having concrete evidence, which aligns with the definition of 'assume.'

In contrast, 'guessed' implies uncertainty and lack of basis, 'calculated' suggests a numerical or logical determination which does not fit the context, and 'imagined' implies a creation of a concept or scenario in the mind, which is not the intended meaning in this case.