King Acrisius's death was caused by what?

• A. A sword that hit him
• B. Old age
• C. A storm at sea
• D. He died at sea

Answer: (A)

This item tests how you handle the passive construction was caused by and, specifically, how you identify the agent or instrument behind a result. When a sentence says someone’s death was caused by something, the phrase points to what directly brings about that result. A sword that hit him is the concrete instrument responsible for the death, so it fits naturally as the cause in this structure.

Old age describes a general fate rather than the immediate instrument causing the death, which makes it a weaker match. A storm at sea could be a cause in some contexts, but it’s less directly tied to the act that results in death here. Dying at sea tells you where the event happened, not the cause.

So, the sword that hit him names the direct agent of the death, making it the best match for the sentence pattern.