Question

6 \youve cut off your hair?\ asked jim, laboriously, as if he had not arrived at that patent fact yet even after the hardest mental labor.
what does laboriously mean in the sentence?
a with haste
b with difficulty
c with affection
d with amusement

Explanation:

To determine the meaning of "laboriously" in the sentence, we analyze the context: "as if he had not arrived at that patent fact yet even after the hardest mental labor". This implies Jim had difficulty reaching the realization, so "laboriously" means doing something with difficulty. "With haste" means quickly (opposite of laborious), "with affection" is about care, and "with amusement" is about fun—none fit.

Answer:

B. with difficulty