Vocabulary – Choose the synonym that best matches the highlighted word in the sentence. Sentence: The great dancer impressed the appreciative crowd by his “nimble” movements.

Introduction / Context:
“Nimble” describes movements that are quick, light, and agile. In performance arts, it points to deft footwork and alert coordination rather than merely speed or clarity. Our task is to select the closest synonym in this context.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Target word: nimble (dance context).
• Audience reaction: appreciative crowd.
• Options include antonyms or loosely related descriptors.

Concept / Approach:
Among the choices, “lively” best captures the agile, spirited quality implied by nimble. “Quickening” is a participle meaning “making quicker,” not a property of the dancer. “Clear” is about visibility or lucidity, and “unrhythmic” is an antonym unrelated to agility.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Substitute: “impressed … by his lively movements” preserves the positive, agile nuance. Reviews often pair nimble with “lively,” “light-footed,” or “agile.”

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Unrhythmic: Opposes rhythmic skill; not a synonym.
• quickening: Describes an action of making faster; not an inherent movement quality.
• clear: Concerns visibility/clarity, not motion traits.

Common Pitfalls:
Selecting a word that implies only speed. Nimbleness is about agility and deftness, not just moving fast.

Final Answer:
lively