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Difficulty: MediumSynonym Context Clues

The engineering corps completed an arduous trek—a grueling and exhausting march across muddy terrain—to deliver backup generators to the forward operating post. Which of the following is the closest synonym for arduous as used in the sentence?

  1. A
    effortless
  2. demandingAnswer
  3. C
    ardent
  4. D
    urgent

Answer

demanding
The sentence provides an explicit restatement clue set off by dashes: 'a grueling and exhausting march across muddy terrain.' Both 'grueling' and 'exhausting' describe an activity that requires immense energy and effort, making 'demanding' the precise contextual synonym for 'arduous.'

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Locate the target word and any restatement clues in the sentence.
The target word is 'arduous', followed by the dash-bracketed restatement clue 'a grueling and exhausting march across muddy terrain'.
Dashes often set off appositives or direct synonymous restatements that define unfamiliar vocabulary.
2
Analyze the descriptive terms within the context clue.
'Grueling' and 'exhausting' describe a task that requires severe physical effort, strain, and endurance.
Synthesizing the meaning of the clue terms provides the precise semantic definition needed.
3
Evaluate the answer choices to identify the true synonym matching the deduced definition.
'Demanding' accurately captures the sense of requiring arduous physical or mental labor.
The correct synonym must reflect the high level of effort and strain indicated by the context.

Key Concept

Using dash restatement context clues to determine the synonym of a descriptive adjective in an operational narrative.
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Synonym Context Clues

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