Vocabulary – Choose the option that BEST expresses the meaning of the underlined word in context. Sentence: Catching snakes can be hazardous for people untrained in the art.

Introduction / Context:
“Hazardous” is widely used in safety and risk contexts to mean “dangerous” or “involving risk.” The sentence concerns the risk of catching snakes without training, so the most accurate synonym must convey danger, not merely complexity or effort.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Target word: hazardous.
• Context: catching snakes (risk of bites, venom, accidents).
• We need a precise synonym.

Concept / Approach:
While “tricky” and “difficult” suggest challenge, and “harmful” suggests causing harm, “hazardous” specifically denotes situations with inherent danger. “Dangerous” is the standard one-word synonym in safety and occupational texts.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Define hazardous = involving danger or risk.Evaluate options: “dangerous” maps exactly; others only partially overlap.Choose the term that preserves the risk emphasis.Check sentence for natural fit.

Verification / Alternative check:
Substitute: “Catching snakes can be dangerous …” This communicates the intended caution cleanly.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• tricky: implies complexity, not risk.
• harmful: usually describes effects, not the risky nature of an activity.
• difficult: measures effort, not danger.

Common Pitfalls:
Equating difficulty with danger; they are related but not identical.

Final Answer:
dangerous