Attend to the details that matter
Read for meaning first. Select a highlighted word if you want a closer look.
At a student poster sale, Sal was perceptive enough to notice that a tiny change in spacing altered the mood of two otherwise similar designs. A discriminating buyer, she compared their printing quality and composition rather than choosing solely by size. Her shrewdness appeared when she asked whether the price included a suitable frame before committing her limited budget. These observations described related strengths: understanding a significant detail, recognizing differences in quality, and using practical judgment about the choice she actually faced.
The seller appreciated Sal's perceptive question because it identified a feature other visitors had overlooked. Being discriminating did not require her to reject everything; she could explain why one design suited her purpose better. Her shrewdness concerned the practical consequences of the purchase, including whether she could display it within her budget. Sal ultimately chose the smaller print, showing that careful judgment could lead to an ordinary purchase rather than a dramatic discovery or an attempt to outwit the seller.
Before you move on
Look away from the passage. Can you explain each focus word in your own words?
Original fictional passages for vocabulary practice.