Question

this semester, with some trepidation, i decided to take a class on shakespeare’s tragedies. i appreciate that ms. robertson establishes clear expectations for students: the course requirements are rigorous but fair. on the first day of class, she handed out a detailed syllabus listing all the required readings, in-class projects, homework assignments, and tests. the course is definitely challenging, but in a good way, and ms. robertson is always very supportive and encouraging. select the two words that are most similar in meaning to rigorous as it is used in the passage. 1. demanding 2. harsh 3. rigid 4. severe 5. thorough

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze the context of "rigorous" in the passage. The course has detailed requirements (readings, projects, etc.) and is challenging but fair.

• "demanding": Requires effort, matches the challenging nature.
• "harsh": Has a negative connotation (too strict/cruel), which doesn't fit "but fair".
• "rigid": Implies inflexibility, not the focus here (the course is challenging, not inflexible).
• "severe": Also negative, like harsh, doesn't fit "fair".
• "thorough": Detailed and comprehensive, matches the detailed syllabus and challenging (thorough requirements).

So "demanding" and "thorough" are the best fits.

Answer:

1. demanding, 5. thorough