Even a mediocre student can pass that test.

Analyze the question: You need the word closest in meaning to "mediocre" as used in the sentence: "Even a mediocre student can pass that test."

Explain the concept: "Mediocre" (adjective) means of only moderate quality, neither good nor bad, just ordinary or middling. It often carries a slightly negative tone, suggesting "not outstanding." The word "even" in the sentence tells us the test is so easy that a student who is merely ordinary can still pass it.

Step-by-step solution:

1. A. dull: This describes someone slow-witted or boring. A mediocre student is not necessarily dull, so this is not the best fit.
2. B. fresh: This means new or recently made. It has nothing to do with ability, so it is wrong.
3. C. average: This means ordinary, neither excellent nor poor. It matches "mediocre" most closely.
4. D. lazy: This describes a lack of effort. Mediocre refers to level of performance, not attitude, so it is wrong.

Answer: The sentence means "Even an average student can pass that test.

Exam tip: Think of the "med" in mediocre as in "medium" (the middle). A mediocre person is in the middle, so average. In synonym questions, you can also replace the word in the sentence with each option and see which one keeps the meaning unchanged.