Question

Choose the sentence where the underlined word is used correctly.

• A. This latest novel is a pedestrian story about spies.
• B. The exam paper is not pedestrian but difficult.
• C. This is the pedestrian highway.
• D. Every week we are forced to listen to a pedestrian lecture.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

The word "pedestrian" has two primary meanings:

• As a noun, it refers to a person walking along a road or in a developed area.
• As an adjective, it means lacking inspiration or excitement; dull.

When evaluating the provided sentences:

1. This sentence uses "pedestrian" to describe a story, implying it is unremarkable or uninspiring. This usage is correct based on the adjective's definition.
   This latest novel is a pedestrian story about spies.
2. This sentence contrasts "pedestrian" with "difficult," suggesting that pedestrian and difficult are opposites. This is incorrect.
   The exam paper is not pedestrian but difficult.
3. Here "pedestrian" functions incorrectly as an adjective describing a highway. Typically "highway" would not be described as pedestrian.
   This is the pedestrian highway.
4. This correctly uses "pedestrian" as an adjective for a lecture that is likely mundane or unexciting.
   Every week we are forced to listen to a pedestrian lecture.

Thus, the sentence that correctly uses "pedestrian" as intended for mundane or dullness is:

Every week we are forced to listen to a pedestrian lecture.