For this question, choose the option nearest in meaning to the word or phrase in italics. Parenting is really arduous even though enjoyable.

Arduous means requiring a great deal of effort, endurance, or stamina; extremely difficult and tiring. The sentence acknowledges that parenting is demanding despite being enjoyable.

The word nearest in meaning is strenuous, which means requiring or involving great exertion or effort. Both arduous and strenuous emphasise the demanding, physically or mentally exhausting nature of an activity.

The other options are close but not the best fit:

• troublesome means causing difficulty or annoyance; it focuses on problems caused rather than effort required.
• hectic means full of frantic activity and rushed pace; it describes a busy tempo rather than the difficulty of a task.
• severe means strict, harsh, or intense; it does not capture the sense of requiring sustained effort that arduous conveys.

Strenuous is the closest synonym because, like arduous, it specifically describes something that demands sustained physical or mental effort.