It seemed as if everything was moving in slow motion. I saw the basket in such sharp detail I could almost count the strings. I heard the player next to me breathing. My senses were acute as I lifted the ball, ready to spring it toward the goal.

What clues would the reader be most likely to use in determining the meaning of the word acute?

A. sharp detail, count the strings, heard…breathing

B. seemed, saw, heard

C. basket, player, goal

D. moving, count, lifted, spring

Answer is option A (sharp detail, count the strings, heard…breathing).

Explanation:

From the paragraph, it is clear that the person is participating in a game. The excitement and the enhanced alertness (because of acute senses) felt by the person when participating in the sport is due to the release of adrenaline hormone into their circulatory system.

If a person's senses are acute or have an acute mind, it means that the person's senses (sight, hearing, or smell) are very sensitive and powerful and so, that person must be very quick to notice things and can understand them clearly.

The clues that the reader would be most likely to use in determining the meaning of the word acute are 'sharp detail, count the strings, heard…breathing,' etc present in the paragraph.