Choose the word which is nearly opposite in meaning to the given word. The target word is "refractory", often used to describe someone or something that is stubborn, unmanageable, or difficult to control.

Introduction / Context:
This antonym question tests your understanding of the word refractory, which describes people, animals, or materials that are difficult to manage, control, or work with. You are asked to choose the word that expresses the opposite idea, that is, something or someone easy to handle or control.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The word to be contrasted is "refractory".
We assume the commonly tested meaning: stubborn, resistant, or unmanageable.
The correct antonym must express being easy to manage, handle, or control.
Some options are included as distractors and relate to other qualities like being refreshing or privileged.

Concept / Approach:
Refractory is often applied to children, patients, or materials that resist control, treatment, or influence. For example, a refractory child does not obey easily, and a refractory disease does not respond to treatment. The opposite idea would be something manageable, obedient, or responsive. Among the options, manageable clearly expresses this meaning. Refreshing, burdensome, privileged, and obstinate describe different qualities and do not form a direct opposite to refractory in this context.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that refractory means stubborn, disobedient, or difficult to manage. Step 2: Look for an option that means easy to control or handle. Step 3: Option D Manageable directly expresses being capable of being managed or controlled without much difficulty. Step 4: Option A Refreshing refers to something that is pleasant or invigorating, not the opposite of stubborn. Step 5: Option B Burdensome means heavy or difficult in terms of effort or responsibility but does not directly mean easy to manage. Step 6: Option C Privileged describes having special advantages or rights, not manageability. Step 7: Option E Obstinate is actually similar in meaning to refractory, describing stubbornness, and is therefore a synonym, not an antonym.

Verification / Alternative check:
Consider the phrases refractory student and manageable student. The first suggests a child who refuses to follow rules, while the second suggests a child who cooperates and is easy to handle. If we tried refreshing student or privileged student, we would be describing something entirely different. Additionally, obstinate student has almost the same meaning as refractory student, confirming that obstinate cannot be the opposite. Thus, manageable is the only option that clearly reverses the meaning.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A Refreshing describes something that makes you feel fresh or lively and has nothing to do with obedience or control.
Option B Burdensome refers to something that is heavy or difficult to bear, which can sometimes overlap with refractory situations but does not express the opposite of easy to manage.
Option C Privileged is about having special advantages and is unrelated to the idea of manageability or stubbornness.
Option E Obstinate is a near synonym of refractory and therefore cannot serve as its antonym.

Common Pitfalls:
Exam takers sometimes choose synonyms by mistake when asked for antonyms because they focus only on whether the word sounds familiar. A good habit is to first restate the original word in your own simple language—here, stubborn or unmanageable—and then consciously look for its opposite: easy to manage or obedient. This will guide you toward options like manageable and away from synonyms like obstinate.

Final Answer:
The word nearly opposite in meaning to "refractory" is manageable.