16Hit1600
Craft and StructureVery hardAdjective fixed by leads that dissolve

Craft and Structure practice question

The cause of the illness remained ____ for decades: every promising lead dissolved on closer examination.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

  1. A. elusiveCorrect
  2. B. obvious
  3. C. harmless
  4. D. contagious

Answer: A. elusive

A cause that escapes every attempt to pin it down is 'elusive'.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. obvious
'Obvious' is the opposite of a cause that couldn't be found.
C. harmless
'Harmless' describes the illness's effect, not the search for its cause.
D. contagious
'Contagious' describes how an illness spreads, not the difficulty of finding its cause.

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