Question

look at the word in bold in the highlighted paragraph.
in deserts and along coastlines, rolling hills of sand can go on for miles. from a distance, these beautiful dunes often resemble mountain ranges or flowing waves. sand dunes offer the perfect setting for an exciting sport: sandboarding.
sandboarding is similar to other board sports, such as surfing and snowboarding. like a snowboard, the sandboard has straps that hold the boarders feet in place and a slick plastic coating on the bottom. to prepare for a run, sandboarders apply slippery wax to the bottom of the boards and strap in. from the top of a dune, sandboarders glide down, making tracks in the sand. because sandboarders do not have to follow twisting mountain trails, they can go straight down a slope and keep picking up speed. but this increase in speed comes with a price: sand feels harder than water or snow when a person falls.
it takes hours of practice to learn how to balance and move on the uneven sand. even the walk back up to the top can be difficult. as sandboarders trudge up the sandy hill, their feet sink into the sand with each step. so, falling on the way back up is just as likely as a stumble on the way down.
when practicing this sport, it is important to have the necessary protective gear. sandboarders must protect their skin by using sunscreen and by wearing long clothing. it is also necessary to have goggles or sunglasses. protective eyewear shields the sandboarders eyes from the bright sun and sparkling sand. even with the proper gear, the sun and heat can be intense. so, it is imperative for sandboarders who are spending a lot of time on the dunes to drink enough water. despite its challenges, sandboarding offers high - speed thrills in beautiful surroundings.
what is the meaning of imperative as used in the text?
fairly unusual fairly helpful
extremely difficult extremely important

Explanation:

The word "imperative" is used in the context of sandboarders spending a lot of time on dunes needing to drink enough water. The surrounding text emphasizes the importance of taking this action due to the sun and heat being intense. "Imperative" means something that is of great importance or necessity. Among the options, "extremely important" best fits this meaning as it conveys the high level of necessity for sandboarders to drink water. The other options ("fairly unusual", "fairly helpful", "extremely difficult") do not match the context of emphasizing a necessary action.

Answer:

extremely important