Read this excerpt from "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant. Based on the context of the paragraph, what does the word odious mea
n? She came to know what heavy housework meant and the odious cares of the kitchen. She washed the dishes, using her dainty fingers and rosy nails on greasy pots and pans. She washed the soiled linen, the shirts and the dishcloths, which she dried upon a line; she carried the slops down to the street every morning and carried up the water, stopping for breath at every landing.
A. rewarding
B. happy
C. unpleasant
D. sweet-smelling
E. concealed
The word "odious" resembles the word "unpleasant" in meaning, as it refers to something that inspires hate. However, if you do not know the meaning of a word, it is always a good strategy to look at the context of the sentence. In this sentence, we learn that "odious" refers to heavy housework, and in particular actions such as washing linen, carrying slops and water. All of these are likely to be unpleasant activities.
The purpose is usually to analyze the meaning of the play and understand the themes and messages contained within the characters of the play and the play itself.
