Select the correct answer.

Which sentence correctly uses the word abysmal?

OA. While breaking one pencil during the SATs is bad luck, breaking six pencils is downright abysmal.

OB. Peering over the edge into the dark abysmal, Frank thought maybe he wasn't cut out for caving.

C. Jill could not understand Seth's unflappable abysmal in the face of certain failure.

D. Phil nearly fell into the deep abysmal due to his foolish habit of reading while walking.

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The answer is A.

Explanation:

The word abysmal is derived from the word abyss, so its basic meaning is very deep. However, it can be also used figuratively to describe something bad or catastrophic. Knowing that abysmal is an adjective, we can see the wrong usage of it being represented as a noun and even putting and adjective just right next to it and confirming its role as a noun which abysmal certainly is not.

In the sentence A, we can see that abysmal refers to breaking six pencils, so as an adjective it modifies a noun, while in the other examples other adjectives refer to abysmal, modify it and take it as a noun.

In answers B, C and D we see that this word is used as a noun, thus making A the correct answer.