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Difficulty: MediumIdentifying Antonym and Contrast Context Clues

During desert field maneuvers, the support company anticipated that assembling the tactical pontoon bridge would be an arduous task. Instead, because of newly issued modular locking pins, the combat engineers completed the entire structure in less than fifteen minutes without experiencing significant physical strain.

As used in the passage, what does the word "arduous" most nearly mean?

  1. A
    Quick and effortless
  2. B
    Dangerous and hostile
  3. Demanding great physical effort and laborAnswer
  4. D
    Located in an arid environment

Answer

Demanding great physical effort and labor
The passage uses the contrast transition word 'Instead' to set up an explicit comparison between what was expected and what actually happened. Because the bridge was assembled quickly and 'without experiencing significant physical strain,' the word 'arduous' refers to the opposite condition: something requiring strenuous effort and difficult labor.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Locate the target word and identify the surrounding transitional structure.
The word 'arduous' appears in the first sentence, immediately followed by the contrast transition word 'Instead' at the start of the second sentence.
Contrast transition markers indicate that the second clause presents the opposite condition of the first clause.
2
Analyze the contrasting context clue provided in the second sentence.
The actual task took 'less than fifteen minutes' and occurred 'without experiencing significant physical strain.'
Since the real outcome was quick and physically easy, the anticipated 'arduous' task must mean the direct opposite: demanding, strenuous, and requiring substantial effort.

Key Concept

Identifying Antonym and Contrast Context Clues
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Identifying Antonym and Contrast Context Clues

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