Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that is nearest in meaning to the word underlined People respect my aunt because she is very industrious.

Step 1: Analyze the question The underlined word is industrious. We need the option closest in meaning to it.

Step 2: Explain the concept Industrious (adjective) means diligent, hardworking, and constantly busy at a task. Don't confuse it with industrial, which relates to industry. The noun form is industry, meaning diligence or hard work.

Step 3: Check each option

• A. Faithful: loyal or trustworthy. This is not about work effort.
• B. Hardworking: diligent and putting in great effort. This matches industrious.
• C. Skillful: having ability or expertise. A person can be skillful without being diligent.
• D. Upright: morally honest and righteous. This is about character, not work.
• E. Versatile: able to do many different things. This is about range of ability, not effort.

Step 4: Answer The sentence becomes: "People respect my aunt because she is very hardworking." This fits perfectly, so the answer is B. hardworking.

Tip: Link the word to its root, industry, which means "diligent effort." Words like diligent, assiduous, sedulous, and laborious are also synonyms of industrious, and they often appear in JAMB, WASSCE, and NECO vocabulary questions.