ASVAB · Context Clues

In the sentence, 'Despite the setback, the team remained RESOLUTE in their mission,' RESOLUTE most nearly means:

Correct answer

Determined and firm

  1. A Determined and firm
  2. B Discouraged
  3. C Confused
  4. D Exhausted

Why this is the answer

The context — remaining a certain way 'despite the setback' — tells you RESOLUTE means firmly determined and unwavering. The phrase 'despite the setback' sets up a contrast: even though something went wrong, the team held firm. The distractor 'discouraged' is what you might expect after a setback, but the word 'despite' signals the opposite. RESOLUTE comes from the same root as 'resolve' and 'resolution,' all carrying the sense of firm purpose. Using contrast words like 'despite,' 'although,' and 'but' is a key context-clue strategy.
Source: ASVAB Word Knowledge — Context Clues