Directions: Read the following passage and answer the given questions. As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to sweep across the United States, it is taking an ever-increasing toll on public health, as well as numerous other industries and sectors. From travel and tourism to finance and construction – almost every aspect of the U.S. economy has faced a lot of hurdles due to the global pandemic. One industry that has seen particularly noticeable changes over the past few months is e-commerce. As most states have issued stay-at-home orders in an attempt to slow the spread of the disease, many Americans are now self-isolating while turning to technology for work, education, communication, and shopping. One of the most visible shifts in U.S. consumer demand and behavior, however, can be seen in regard to grocery shopping. According to a global survey conducted in April 2020, roughly 30 percent of U.S. consumers spent more than usual on food and drinks due to COVID-19, with packaged foods, alcohol, and nonperishable items most frequently purchased for their long shelf lives. But not only the amount and type of food that U.S. customers buy and sometimes stockpile has shifted in the first quarter of 2020, but also the preferred avenues. Around 74 percent of surveyed shoppers indicated a willingness to visit online grocery platforms during home isolation to avoid trips to the supermarket. In return, orders on online grocery delivery platforms like Postmates and DoorDash are surging, with Instacart, one of the most popular grocery delivery apps in the United States, seeing a 218 percent increase in downloads in March 2020. But while these services offer customers a safe and flexible alternative to jammed grocery stores or restaurants, companies like Instacart are also facing harsh criticism for their treatment of delivery workers. As couriers are hired as gig workers instead of employees, they do not receive sick pay or other health benefits. Seeing that these mediocre contractors work on the frontlines of the pandemic, their lack of financial and physical protection against the coronavirus has been an ongoing point of contention.
Hurdle Synonym:- _______; Antonym:- ________
Block; Ease
Finding the Synonym and Antonym for "Hurdle" in the Passage
The question asks us to identify a synonym and an antonym for the word "Hurdle" as it is used in the provided passage.
The passage states: "almost every aspect of the U.S. economy has faced a lot of hurdles due to the global pandemic."
In this context, "hurdles" refers to difficulties, obstacles, or challenges that the economy had to face. We need to find a word that means something similar (synonym) and a word that means the opposite (antonym).
Analyzing the Options
Let's look at the options and consider the first word as a potential synonym and the second word as a potential antonym for "Hurdle" (meaning difficulty/obstacle):
- Option 1: Obstacle; Complication - "Obstacle" is a good synonym for "hurdle". "Complication" is related to difficulty but is not a direct antonym for "hurdle".
- Option 2: impediment; hindrance - Both "impediment" and "hindrance" are synonyms for "hurdle". This option provides two synonyms, not a synonym and an antonym.
- Option 3: Difficulty; Barrier - Both "Difficulty" and "Barrier" are synonyms for "hurdle". This option provides two synonyms, not a synonym and an antonym.
- Option 4: Block; Ease - "Block" can be used as a synonym for "hurdle" in the sense of something that obstructs or prevents progress (an obstacle). "Ease" means the absence of difficulty or effort, which is a direct antonym for "hurdle".
- Option 5: Aid; Assistance - Both "Aid" and "Assistance" are antonyms for "hurdle" (meaning help or support, the opposite of an obstacle). This option provides two antonyms, not a synonym and an antonym.
Identifying the Correct Pair
Based on the analysis, we are looking for a pair where the first word is a synonym for "hurdle" (obstacle/difficulty) and the second word is an antonym for "hurdle" (absence of difficulty).
Option 4, "Block; Ease", fits this requirement. "Block" serves as a synonym for "hurdle" in this context, representing an obstacle. "Ease" serves as an antonym, representing a lack of difficulty or obstruction.
Therefore, the correct synonym is "Block" and the correct antonym is "Ease".
Important Questions from Reading Comprehension
Why, according to the writer can't people be motivated to use a resource prudently?
1. They feel that others may overuse the resource
2. It is possible to substitute the resource
3. Abundance of the resource availability
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
When do people use resources exhaustively?
The self-interest of people affects the use of renewable resources
People rooted in a locality
Which among the following is closest in meaning with the word 'deplete'?
