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Difficulty: EasyInferring Vocabulary and Idiomatic Expressions in Context

In a journalistic essay about environmental conservation, the author describes the effort to eliminate single-use plastics as an 'uphill battle' for small municipalities because of limited budgets and lack of alternative materials. Based on the context of the essay, what is the meaning of the expression 'uphill battle'?

  1. A very difficult task that requires a lot of effortAnswer
  2. B
    A physical competition that takes place on a mountain slope
  3. C
    An impossible challenge that cannot be resolved
  4. D
    A highly profitable strategy for the local government

Answer

A very difficult task that requires a lot of effort
The correct answer is correct because the context of the essay highlights obstacles such as limited budgets and lack of alternative materials, indicating that the task is highly challenging and requires significant effort.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the target phrase and its context in the passage.
The phrase is 'uphill battle', used to describe the municipal effort to eliminate single-use plastics.
Understanding where and how the phrase is used is the first step to determining its contextual meaning.
2
Analyze the clues in the surrounding sentence.
The text mentions 'limited budgets' and 'lack of alternative materials' as reasons why the effort is described this way.
These clues indicate that the process is challenging and requires significant resources and effort.
3
Evaluate the options to find the one that matches the contextual meaning of a difficult task.
The option describing a very difficult task requiring effort is the correct match.
This definition aligns with both the figurative meaning of the idiom and the contextual obstacles described.

Key Concept

Inferring Vocabulary and Idiomatic Expressions in Context
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Inferring Vocabulary and Idiomatic Expressions in Context

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