Question

select the correct text in the passage.
which root in this excerpt from horseshoes by ring lardner means \strong\?

they was one out when barry hit one through the box for a base. schang walked, and it was bushs turn. connie told him to hunt, but he whiffed in the attempt. then murphy comes up and walks—and the bases are choked. young joyce had been pie for tesreau all day or else mcgraw might of changed pitchers right there. anyway he left big jeff in and he beaned joyce with a fast one. it sounded like a tire blowin out. joyce falls over in a heap and we chase out there, thinkin hes dead; but he aint, and pretty soon he gets up and walks down to first base. tesreau had forced in a run and again we begun to count the winners end. matty comes in to prevent further damage and collins flies the side out

Explanation:

To determine the root meaning "strong", we analyze the roots of the words. The word "forced" comes from the root "fort" (or "forc" in some forms), which means "strong". In the context, "forced in a run" implies using strength to get the run in. Other words like "whiffed", "choked", "prevent" don't have roots meaning "strong".

Answer:

forced (the root "forc" (from Latin "fortis") means "strong")