Question

Find the synonym of the underlined word.
Some language students find studying vocabulary an irksome task.
a. Easy
b. Pleasant
c. Tedious
d. Smooth
e. Creative

Answer 1

Hint: A synonym refers to a word that is similar in meaning to another word.

Complete answer:

Irksome means to be irritating or annoying. If something is irksome, it is quite likely that it is exasperating. This word can be traced back to the beginning of the nineteenth century.
Let’s look at its usage:
Example- The teacher didn’t like to be interrupted while lecturing. She claimed that it was irksome. Here, we can see that the teacher found interruptions during teaching to be annoying.
Let’s examine the given options:
a. Easy – This option means to present a few difficulties. It is different in meaning to irksome. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
b. Pleasant- This option means to be enjoyable or pleasing. It is different in meaning to irksome. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
c. Tedious- This option means to be tiresome or monotonous in a way that is annoying. It is similar in meaning to irksome. Hence, it is the correct option.
d. Smooth- This option means having a regular surface. It is different in meaning to irksome. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
e. Creative - This option means to be imaginative and inventive. It is different in meaning to irksome. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
The correct answer is option ‘c’.

Note: Students should know the meanings of all the options that could constitute the correct answer. If they mistake an antonym for a synonym, they may select pleasant as the answer.