ACT English 2.9 Passage Drill

to give a successful kitty-bath is to make the cat feel safe. In the next sentence, the

writer talks about how he or she used nice stuff like coconut shampoo to make the bath

as relaxing as possible. (Who knew cats like coconut shampoo? Yay, for learning.)

Anyway, it's looking like we can nix choice (A). The word "secured" doesn't fit

because it doesn't have the correct meaning. When something is "secured" that means

it's been fixed or attached so that it can't move or be lost. The writer isn't gluing

the cat to the rubber mat; therefore, this doesn't work.

What the ACT is trying to do here is trick us into thinking we're looking at the word

"secure," which can be used to describe someone who feels safe and happy. We're

not falling for it, though. The "ed" ending changes the meaning, so we"re giving (A) the boot.

Choices (B) and (C) take us down the same road as (A). Both "stationary" and "immobile"

could work as synonyms for "secured." If the writer wanted these things for the

cat, however, he or she would put it in a straightjacket or something. We imagine that

would do the opposite of making the cat feel safe and secure--especially as its being submerged in water.

Of course, we bet Houdini's cat did this kinda stuff all the time.

Choice (D) is the correct answer. The word "comfortable" gets across the safe and

secure feeling that the writer is trying to engender in the cat.

Next time, maybe the writer and cat should give transcendental meditation a shot.