Question

read this sentence from paragraph 25 of \the trouble with truffles.\
he was almost crying when he told her of his futile search for buried treasure.
what is the best meaning of futile as it is used in this sentence?
a. in-depth
b. unproductive
c. unreasonable
d. time-consuming

Explanation:

To determine the meaning of "futile", analyze the context: he was almost crying about his search for buried treasure, implying the search was unsuccessful or unproductive. "In - depth" (A) means thorough, not matching. "Unreasonable" (C) refers to lack of reason, not relevant. "Time - consuming" (D) is about taking time, not matching. "Unproductive" (B) fits as a futile search is one that yields no results.

Answer:

B. Unproductive