In the sentence 'The fleeting moment passed before she could react,' the word FLEETING most nearly means:

FLEETING means passing swiftly; lasting only a short time. Context clues: 'passed before she could react' suggests the moment was very brief. From Old English 'fleotan' (to flee), related to fleet (fast-moving). Example: 'A fleeting smile crossed his face.' Synonyms: brief, momentary, transient, ephemeral, short-lived. Antonyms: lasting, enduring, permanent, prolonged. Context-clue strategy on the ASVAB: (1) Read the sentence carefully; (2) Look for hints about whether the word is positive or negative; (3) Try substituting each answer choice into the sentence — which makes sense?; (4) Consider the tone and other vocabulary around the word. The other choices fail: 'pleasant' doesn't fit (a pleasant moment can last); 'important' is contradicted (you wouldn't miss it); 'repeated' contradicts 'passed.'