Question

this excerpt is from zachary ying and the dragon emperor by xiran jay zhao.

zack had learned to stop opening the lunches his mom packed for him in front of his friends. he didnt eat them anymore either. he loved his moms cooking, but his friends always wrinkled their noses as if the pungent sauces and spices hit them like a physical wave. of course they made a big deal out of how the one asian kid in school had the \weirdest\ food. ugh, he hated that this was a stereotype.

what is the meaning of pungent, as it is used in the passage?
choose 1 answer:
a sauces and spices
b fast-paced
c not different
d strong-smelling
attribution

Explanation:

The passage states Zack's friends wrinkled their noses at the food, reacting to the "pungent sauces and spices" as if they were a physical wave. Wrinkling the nose is a reaction to a strong, intense smell. Option A is the noun phrase the adjective describes, B and C are unrelated to the context.

Answer:

D. strong-smelling