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Difficulty: MediumExample Context Clues

The newly appointed expedition leader was tasked with several onerous responsibilities, including hauling heavy supply sledges up steep glaciers, rationing dwindling food supplies in sub-zero blizzards, and navigating treacherous crevasses without radio support.

In the sentence above, what does the underlined word onerous most nearly mean?

  1. A
    ominous and threatening
  2. B
    effortless and simple
  3. burdensome and demandingAnswer
  4. D
    prestigious and celebrated

Answer

burdensome and demanding
The phrase 'burdensome and demanding' is correct because the sentence uses the signal word 'including' to present three arduous tasks: hauling heavy sledges, rationing scarce food, and crossing dangerous crevasses. These specific illustrations clearly establish that 'onerous' means involving heavy effort and difficulty.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Locate the example context clue signal word and the list of examples in the sentence.
The word 'including' introduces three specific duties: 'hauling heavy supply sledges up steep glaciers', 'rationing dwindling food supplies in sub-zero blizzards', and 'navigating treacherous crevasses'.
Signal words such as 'including' or 'such as' provide concrete instances that illustrate the meaning of the unfamiliar target word.
2
Analyze the common characteristics shared by the provided examples.
All three examples involve arduous, exhausting, and difficult physical and mental labor under extreme hardship.
Synthesizing the common quality across the example items reveals the core contextual definition.
3
Match the synthesized meaning to the closest available definition choice.
The phrase 'burdensome and demanding' aligns directly with the grueling tasks described.
The correct contextual synonym must accurately reflect the strenuous nature demonstrated by the illustrative examples.

Key Concept

Using example context clues signaled by words like 'including' or 'such as' to determine the meaning of an unfamiliar adjective.
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Example Context Clues

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