Ebere's indolence contrasts with her sister's.

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks for the word opposite in meaning to the underlined word, indolence.

Step 2: Explain the concept Indolence (noun) means laziness, a dislike of work or effort. Its adjective form is indolent (lazy, idle).

This is an antonym question, so be careful not to pick a synonym. The word contrasts in the sentence is also a hint: Ebere's indolence is being set against a different quality in her sister.

Step 3: Check each option

• A. indulgence: This means leniency or giving in to one's desires. It only looks similar to indolence because the spellings are alike, and it is not the opposite.
• B. laziness: This is a synonym of indolence, so it is the wrong direction.
• C. diligence: This means hard work, care, and persistent effort. It is the direct opposite of laziness.
• D. prudence: This means carefulness or wisdom in handling affairs. It is not related to working hard or being lazy.

Step 4: Answer The opposite of indolence is diligence, which is option C.

Tip: In "opposite meaning" questions, JAMB often includes the synonym (here, laziness) as a trap. Find the meaning first, then ask yourself, "Is this the same or the opposite?" Also watch for look-alike words such as indolence and indulgence. A useful memory aid is "In-DOLE-nce = doing nothing, like someone just collecting a dole." Its opposite is being dili-gent, or "diligently working."