Vocab in context question

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
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<p>The passage below was adapted from a novel published in 1987.</p>

<p>I am a painter. I paint portraits and townscapes—views of the inner city, of shabby streets, small, dusty parks, crumbling tenements. That is my art, my reason for living. Unhappily, it is not productive in the crude sense. In spite
5 of kindly reviews of my occasional exhibitions and the loyal response of old friends who attend the private views and buy the smaller paintings, my work only brings in a pittance. The trade that I live by, that pays the bills and the mortgage, that gives my mother the necessary allowance to keep her in reasonable comfort in her small house, is that of a copyist.</p>

<ol>
<li>In line 4, “Unhappily” most nearly means</li>
</ol>

<p>(A) Inappropriately
(B) Mournfully
(C) Unfortunately
(D) Awkwardly
(E) Unexpectedly</p>

<p>The answer is (C), but they all sound the same to me :frowning: Can anyone tell me the difference?</p>

<p>On another note: Whenever I want to ask a critical reading or math question, I have to make a new thread. Is there anything wrong with that, and if so, where can I find an active thread for Critical reading and math questions like this one (<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/782128-post-writing-questions-here-68.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/782128-post-writing-questions-here-68.html&lt;/a&gt;) that’s actually active? Thanks in advance!</p>

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<p>There’s nothing wrong with posting a thread with your question. Just try to gather 4 or 5 questions together into 1 thread every couple of days.</p>

<p>In regards to your question: think of it this way. There’s a painter. He loves painting portraits and towns, he loves painting views of inner cities, and everything he lays his eyes on. Painting is his life. Now, how would it be, if the love of his life, brings him absolutely no income? Would it be inappropriate? No. Is it mournful? Possibly, but it’s not the best choice. Is it awkward? Unexpected? No, it’s not awkward nor unexpected. There are a lot of painters out there who make pennies. The correct feeling he’s trying to convey is that it’s unfortunate. He loves something, yet it brings him no income, which makes it an unfortunate thing.</p>

<p>Reason with yourself, within your mind, during the exam.</p>

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<p>Also, the original meaning of “happy” was “lucky” or “fortunate”:</p>

<p>[Online</a> Etymology Dictionary](<a href=“http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=happy]Online”>happy | Etymology, origin and meaning of happy by etymonline)</p>

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<p>Thanks SirWanksalot and marvin100!</p>