Separate dissatisfaction from indecision and reluctance
Read for meaning first. Select a highlighted word if you want a closer look.
After the dinner, Jae felt discontented with the room's poor reading light and reconsidered the lamp for a concrete reason. She faced a quandary because the attractive model took more table space, while a smaller one gave less light in the shop's demonstration. She was loath to spend her remaining allowance before deciding which compromise mattered more. Her friend helped her name the source of dissatisfaction, the unresolved choice, and the reluctance to act, making the discussion more precise than simply saying she felt uncertain.
Being discontented with the current light explained why Jae wanted a change, but it did not tell her which lamp to choose. The quandary arose from competing advantages that left her unsure what to do. Being loath to spend described her reluctance to commit resources while that question remained unsettled. She measured the table and wrote down what she needed for reading, gathering information that could resolve the choice without dismissing either her dissatisfaction or her sensible hesitation about the purchase.
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.