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Question

Difficulty: MediumSynonym Context Clues

The salvage crew faced an arduous recovery operation—a grueling and strenuous task that required continuous heavy lifting in rough seas.

In the sentence above, which of the following is the closest synonym for arduous?

  1. A
    effortless
  2. strenuousAnswer
  3. C
    arid
  4. D
    urgent

Answer

The word "strenuous" is the closest synonym for "arduous".
In the sentence, the dash sets off an explicit restatement that defines the recovery operation as a "grueling and strenuous task." Therefore, the word "strenuous" is the accurate synonym for "arduous."

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Locate the target word and identify surrounding structural punctuation that signals a context clue.
The dash introduces an explanatory restatement: "a grueling and strenuous task that required continuous heavy lifting in rough seas."
Dashes frequently set off appositives or restatements that define or clarify the preceding term.
2
Examine the paired synonyms and descriptive details within the restatement.
The words "grueling" and "strenuous," combined with "continuous heavy lifting," describe an endeavor demanding immense physical exertion.
Identifying explicit parallel adjectives in the context reveals the exact definition needed.
3
Match the identified contextual meaning with the correct answer choice.
The term "strenuous" directly mirrors the context clue and shares the meaning of requiring severe effort.
Both terms function as adjectives denoting demanding physical or mental labor.

Key Concept

Using dash restatements and paired synonym context clues to determine word meaning
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Synonym Context Clues

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