Question

based on the context clue in the sentence below, what does strident mean? the sound of the alarm was strident in my ears, so harsh that it jarred me awake. shrill tender bright

Explanation:

The context clue "so harsh that it jarred me awake" indicates a loud, sharp - sounding quality. "Shrill" means high - pitched and piercing, which fits this description. "Tender" means soft or gentle, and "bright" is related to light or vividness, neither of which match the context of a harsh sound.

Answer:

A. shrill