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Difficulty: MediumAntonym Distractor Elimination

When the apprentice technician proved to be indolent during shift maintenance, the workshop supervisor had to intervene so the neglected machinery was properly serviced. In this sentence, what does the word indolent most nearly mean?

  1. A
    energetic
  2. B
    insolent
  3. lazyAnswer
  4. D
    indifferent

Answer

lazy
The word 'indolent' describes someone who avoids work or exertion and is habitually inactive. In the sentence, the apprentice technician left machinery neglected until a supervisor had to step in, clearly indicating that 'lazy' is the accurate synonym.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze context clues within the sentence.
The technician left machinery neglected, prompting supervisor intervention due to a lack of effort.
Context signals that the target word describes an unwillingness to perform required labor.
2
Determine the formal definition of the target word 'indolent'.
'Indolent' means habitually inactive, disliking work, or lazy.
Defining the word precisely enables accurate synonym matching.
3
Evaluate answer choices to eliminate antonyms and lookalikes.
'Energetic' is eliminated as a direct antonym trap, 'insolent' as a soundalike trap, and 'indifferent' as an imprecise synonym, confirming 'lazy' as the accurate match.
Systematic distractor elimination prevents falling for common vocabulary test traps.

Key Concept

Antonym Distractor Elimination
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Topics

Antonym Distractor Elimination

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