Question

student name
19 read the sentence from the passage.
however, at even deeper depths, between 9,800 and 13,000 feet (3,000—4,000 meters), there lives a creature so small, round, and adorable that scientists, upon spotting the elusive beast, are likely to say nothing more than “aww!” (paragraph 1)
the word elusive is derived from the latin word eludere, which means “to play away from.” using this information, what do you think elusive means as it is used in this sentence?
a shy in manner
b prone to hiding
c difficult to find
d hostile toward others

Explanation:

To determine the meaning of "elusive", we use the Latin root "eludere" (to play away from) and context. The creature is at deep depths, and scientists find it hard to spot. Option A (shy in manner) focuses on behavior, not detectability. Option B (prone to hiding) implies intentional hiding, but the text emphasizes difficulty in spotting, not the creature's intent. Option D (hostile) is unrelated. Option C (difficult to find) matches the root's implication (evading detection) and the context of scientists struggling to spot it.

Answer:

C. difficult to find