Question

alex pondered the situation. his neighbors new kitten, madge, had managed to climb onto the garage roof, but she now seemed to be utterly panicked and completely at a loss as to how to get back to solid ground. alex considered climbing a nearby tree and jumping the short distance onto the roof to rescue madge. but he rejected that thought. instead, he got a ladder, propped it against the garage, and cautiously climbed toward the frightened kitten. he gently scooped up madge, descended the ladder, and placed her in his neighbors arms. the neighbor smiled and thanked alex for his heroic gesture.
which word is closest in meaning to \heroic\?

1. gallant
2. grand
3. reckless
4. risky

Explanation:

"Heroic" refers to having the characteristics of a hero, showing courage and nobility in action.

1. "Gallant" means brave, noble, and chivalrous, matching the positive, courageous tone of "heroic" as Alex's thoughtful, brave act to rescue the kitten is described as heroic.
2. "Grand" means large, impressive, or magnificent, which does not relate to courage/heroism.
3. "Reckless" means careless and unthinking, which has a negative connotation, unlike the positive "heroic".
4. "Risky" means involving danger, but it does not carry the positive, brave/noble meaning of "heroic".

Answer:

1. gallant