Choose the correct option to fill in the blank in the given sentence:
Although the task seemed ________ at first , consistent efforts made it manageable.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → exhaustive
Adjective after a linking verb:
- Verbs such as seem, look, appear, become are linking verbs: they are followed by an adjective that describes the subject.
- Here the blank describes the task, so it needs an adjective that can describe a task.
- Exhaustive means very thorough, covering every part of something; it can also mean tending to exhaust, very tiring. A task that seemed exhaustive looked huge and tiring at first, which contrasts with "made it manageable".
- Complete sentence: Although the task seemed exhaustive at first, consistent efforts made it manageable.
Example: The police made an exhaustive search of the area.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: exhaust — Incorrect. Exhaust is a verb (to use up completely, or to tire out); a verb cannot follow "seemed" as a describing word.
Example: Long hours in the sun can exhaust even strong workers.
Option 2: exhausted — Incorrect. Exhausted means very tired; it describes a person, not a task.
Example: The players were exhausted after the match.
Option 4: exhaustively — Incorrect. Exhaustively is an adverb; it tells how an action is done and cannot describe the subject after "seemed".
Example: The lawyers checked the contract exhaustively.