Choose from the options lettered A- E the one that is nearest in meaning to the word underlined We need fortitude to survive this trying period.

Analyze the question: The word is "fortitude," used in the sentence "We need fortitude to survive this trying period." We must pick the word closest in meaning.

Explain the concept: Fortitude means strength of mind that lets a person face pain, hardship, or danger with courage and endurance. It comes from the Latin fortis, meaning "strong." So it combines bravery with the ability to endure difficulty.

Check each option:

• A. capability: the ability to do something. This is about skill, not enduring hardship. ✗
• B. courage: bravery in facing danger or difficulty. This is the standard dictionary synonym for fortitude. ✓
• C. resilience: the ability to recover quickly from difficulties. It is close in context, but it is about bouncing back, not about the courage to face hardship. It is a plausible distractor.
• D. vigilance: watchfulness or alertness. ✗
• E. wisdom: good judgment and knowledge. ✗

Weighing B and C: Both fit the sentence, but dictionaries define fortitude as "courage in pain or adversity," so courage is the more direct synonym. Resilience describes recovery, while fortitude describes the strength of spirit shown while enduring.

Answer: B. courage

Exam tip: When two options seem close, go back to the dictionary definition of the word and choose the one that matches the core meaning most directly. Remember fortitude by linking it to fort: a fort is strong, and fortitude is strength of spirit.