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Question

Difficulty: MediumAntonyms and Words Opposite in Meaning

Complete the sentence below by filling in the blank with a word that is opposite in meaning to the emphasized word 'deleterious'.

Answer:While synthetic pesticides often exert deleterious impacts on beneficial insects, organic remedies are known to be 【beneficial】 to the surrounding environment.

Answer

beneficial (or salutary / advantageous / wholesome / harmless)
The word 'deleterious' means causing harm, injury, or damage. Within the contrastive context introduced by 'While', the word opposite in meaning must signify producing positive, healthy, or favorable results, making words like 'beneficial' or 'salutary' the correct fit.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the contextual meaning of the target word 'deleterious'
In this sentence, 'deleterious' describes something causing harm, damage, or injury to living organisms.
Identifying the target word's exact contextual meaning is essential before searching for its antonym.
2
Identify the opposite meaning required by the sentence structure
The word 'While' sets up a direct contrast between synthetic pesticides and organic remedies. The opposite of causing harm ('deleterious') is producing favorable, helpful, or healthy effects.
The contrasting sentence structure demands an antonym such as 'beneficial' or 'salutary' to complete the meaning logically.

Key Concept

Contextual Antonyms
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Antonyms and Words Opposite in Meaning

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