The team has an arduous task ahead of it.

Step 1: Analyze the question The underlined word is arduous. We need the option closest in meaning to it in the sentence "The team has an arduous task ahead of it."

Step 2: Explain the concept Arduous means difficult and tiring, needing a lot of effort and energy over a period of time. For example, "an arduous journey" or "an arduous climb."

Step 3: Examine the options

• A. a severe: Severe means harsh or very intense (severe punishment, severe weather). It describes seriousness or harshness, not effort. It does not fit a task well.
• B. a heavy: A heavy task can suggest a large workload, but it is not as exact as the meaning of arduous.
• C. a strenuous (spelled "strenuous"): Strenuous means requiring great effort and energy. This is almost a direct synonym of arduous.
• D. an enjoyable: This is the opposite of arduous, so it is wrong.

Step 4: Answer The best match is C, strenuous. The option is spelled "strenous" in the question, which is a typo, but the intended word is clearly "strenuous."

Step 5: Exam tip Link arduous with hard work and effort. Related words are strenuous, gruelling, laborious, demanding, taxing. When a word has a tricky meaning, ask yourself whether it describes effort (arduous, strenuous) or harshness (severe). Also remember that an option that means the opposite, like "enjoyable," is a common distractor in these questions.