Synonym selection (vocabulary – meaning of “sterile”): Choose the word that best expresses the meaning. Target word: STERILE Instruction: Select the closest synonym meaning incapable of producing offspring or fruit; by extension, barren.

Meaning
Sterile commonly means unable to reproduce or not productive; also can mean free from living microorganisms (medical sense). In vocabulary tests, the sense aligned with barren is typical.

Option analysis
Barren — not producing or incapable of producing; best synonym here. ✅Fertile — capable of producing abundantly; antonym. ❌Prolific — highly productive; antonym. ❌Fecund — very fertile; antonym. ❌

Example
Sterile soil cannot support crops → Barren soil cannot support crops.

Final Answer
Barren