Alleviate : Aggravate :: Elastic : ? — Preserve antonymy; choose the opposite of “elastic.”

Introduction / Context:The stem presents antonyms (alleviate ↔ aggravate). We must select the antonym of “elastic” to maintain the same relation in the second pair.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Alleviate and aggravate are opposites.
• Elastic describes something capable of resuming shape; its antonym denotes lack of flexibility.

Concept / Approach:“Rigid” is the natural opposite of “elastic” in everyday usage: rigid objects resist bending/stretching and do not easily resume shape. “Flexible” and “malleable” are near-synonyms of elastic; “strong” and “tensile” are orthogonal properties.

Step-by-Step Solution:Preserve antonymy pattern.Pick “Rigid” as the opposite of “Elastic.”

Verification / Alternative check:Materials vocabulary: elastic ↔ rigid/inelastic.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Flexible/Malleable: Synonymous or closely related to “elastic.”
• Strong/Tensile: Different material properties, not antonyms.

Common Pitfalls:Choosing near-synonyms instead of true antonyms.

Final Answer:Rigid