In the following vocabulary question, choose the word which is opposite in meaning to the given word ARID in standard English usage.

Introduction / Context:
This question asks for the antonym, that is, the opposite in meaning, of the adjective arid. The word is often used in geography and environmental studies, as well as in general English, to describe a type of climate or land. To find the correct answer, we need to recall the meaning of arid and then select the word that expresses the opposite characteristic.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Target word: ARID.• Options: DRY, FERTILE, BARREN, FALLOW.• The question clearly asks for the opposite meaning.• We assume the geographical and agricultural sense of the words.

Concept / Approach:
Arid usually describes a region that is extremely dry, with very little rainfall, and therefore unable to support much plant life. In everyday usage, it is very close to words like dry and barren. The direct opposite idea would be land that is rich in moisture and nutrients and able to support abundant plant growth. The adjective fertile expresses this positive quality. The other options are negative or neutral and do not provide a true opposite.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the meaning of arid very dry and lacking enough water to support most plants.Step 2: Look at dry. This word closely repeats the main meaning of arid, so it cannot be an antonym.Step 3: Examine barren, which refers to land that cannot produce crops, again similar to arid rather than opposite.Step 4: Consider fallow, which describes land that is left uncultivated for some time so that it can recover fertility. It does not mean naturally rich or productive.Step 5: Study fertile, which specifically means land that can produce good crops and support plant growth.Step 6: Recognise that fertile is therefore the opposite of arid, because one suggests productive land and the other suggests land that is too dry for such productivity.

Verification / Alternative check:
Think of real life phrases. We talk of an arid desert region with little vegetation. The opposite would be a fertile river valley with rich soil and abundant crops. Dry desert and arid desert are almost the same description. Barren land and arid land also overlap. Fallow land, though unused, may still be fertile and is often left that way on purpose. Only fertile consistently represents a positive condition that stands in contrast to the dryness and unproductiveness of arid land.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
DRY repeats the essential quality of an arid climate and therefore is a near synonym, not an antonym. BARREN describes soil that does not produce crops, which is again similar in effect to arid. FALLOW refers to land deliberately left unplanted, sometimes to restore fertility, but it does not mean the land is wet or productive, so it is not the opposite of arid. None of these choices express the sense of rich, productive, and well watered land that fertile clearly conveys.

Common Pitfalls:
Many candidates focus only on partial similarity rather than the requirement of exact opposition and may mistakenly choose dry or barren because they recognise the association with land. It is essential to read the instruction carefully and remember that antonym means opposite, not just related. Matching arid to fertile is easier if you imagine two contrasting pictures, one of a desert and one of a lush green field.

Final Answer:
The word that is opposite in meaning to ARID is FERTILE.