The weather was still very heavy and sultry?

Analyze the question: You are asked for the word or phrase opposite in meaning to the underlined word. The underlined part is not marked in the text, but the sentence is "The weather was still very heavy and sultry," so the key word is most likely sultry.

Explain the concept: Sultry describes weather that is hot, humid, close and oppressive. Its antonym should therefore suggest cool, fresh, or not stuffy.

Evaluate each option:

• A. wintry and shadowy: Wintry means cold, which is opposite to hot. Shadowy means dark or full of shadows, which does not oppose anything in "sultry".
• B. cold and friendly: Cold is the opposite of hot and sultry. Friendly suggests pleasant weather, which is the opposite of oppressive and uncomfortable. This fits best.
• C. cloudy and thundery: Sultry weather often comes before thunderstorms, so this is similar in meaning, not opposite.
• D. hot and uncomfortable: This is a synonym of sultry, not an antonym.

Which is best, A or B? Both A and B contain a "cold" idea. Option A pairs it with "shadowy", which has no opposite relationship to "heavy" or "sultry". Option B pairs "cold" with "friendly", meaning mild and pleasant.

Answer: B. cold and friendly

Tip: In antonym questions, first eliminate the synonyms (here D and C). Then compare the remaining options for the one where both parts contrast with the original word, not just one part.