Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank.

Poverty was staring her ______ the face.

in

The most appropriate option to fill in the blank is in.

The sentence is about poverty being present in front of the person. The word "in" is the most appropriate word to use because it means "present" or "existing within". The other options are not as appropriate.

• On means "attached to" or "situated on top of". This does not make sense in the context of the sentence because poverty is not attached to the person's face.
• To means "directed towards" or "in the direction of". This does not make sense in the context of the sentence because poverty is not being directed towards the person's face.
• At means "in the vicinity of" or "near". This does not make sense in the context of the sentence because poverty is not near the person's face, it is present in their face.