From his … , one can tell that he is an athlete.

Analyze the question The sentence is "From his __, one can tell that he is an athlete." We need the word that names something about a person's body that you can see and use to judge that he is an athlete.

Explain the words

• Stature: a person's natural height, or sometimes reputation or standing. Height alone does not show that someone is an athlete.
• Gait: the manner of walking or running. It can hint at many things, but it is more often used to describe a limp, a stride, or a style of movement.
• Anatomy: the scientific study of body structure, or the structure itself. It is a technical term and does not fit the idea of judging from someone's appearance.
• Physique: the shape, size, and muscular development of a person's body. It is the word we use for a body that is fit, strong, or well built.

Solve When we say we can "tell" someone is an athlete just by looking at him, we are judging his muscular, well-built body. That is exactly what physique means. "From his physique, one can tell that he is an athlete" is the most natural and idiomatic sentence.

"Gait" is a possible but weaker choice, because a person's walk does not reliably show athletic training. "Stature" refers to height or standing, and "anatomy" is a technical term. Neither fits.

Answer: D. physique

Tip: Link "physique" with "physical" and "fitness". When a question talks about judging someone's body build or muscle tone, think physique. Think "gait" only when the question is about walking style, and "stature" when it is about height or reputation.