Governing a country is not always as straightforward as people sometimes imagine?

Analyze the question: The underlined word is "straightforward" (the question mark at the end is just a typo; the sentence is a statement). We need the word opposite in meaning.

Explain the concept: "Straightforward" means simple, easy to understand or do, with no complications. Its antonym will therefore mean difficult, complex, or tangled.

Check each option:

• A. complicated: means complex, involving many parts, hard to understand. This is directly opposite to "straightforward" (simple, uncomplicated). ✔
• B. troublesome: means causing difficulty or annoyance. It is related to difficulty, but it describes something that bothers you, not something that is structurally simple or complex. It is a weaker fit.
• C. untoward: means unexpected, inappropriate, or unfavourable (e.g., "an untoward incident"). It does not relate to simplicity.
• D. irksome: means annoying or tiresome. This is about irritation, not complexity.

Step-by-step solution:

1. Meaning of "straightforward": simple, uncomplicated.
2. Opposite: complex, complicated.
3. Of the options, only "complicated" matches this precisely.

Answer: The correct option is A. complicated.

Tip: For antonym questions, first define the underlined word in your own simple words, then look for the option that negates that exact idea. Note that the sentence itself hints at the answer: "not always as straightforward as people imagine" suggests that governing is actually complicated. Also watch for distractors like "troublesome" and "irksome" that sound negative but do not target the specific meaning.