Question 5

Brittle means easily broken.

The term 'brittle' refers to a material that is easily broken when subjected to stress or force. In contrast to flexible materials, brittle substances do not deform significantly before breaking.

A) Flexible and resilient

This option is incorrect because 'flexible' refers to the ability of a material to bend without breaking, while 'resilient' indicates the capacity to recover quickly from deformation. Brittle materials, by definition, do not possess these qualities as they break rather than bend.

B) Easily broken

This option is correct as it directly defines 'brittle.' A brittle material shatters or breaks under stress without significant deformation, which aligns perfectly with the definition.

C) Strong and durable

This option is incorrect because 'strong and durable' describes materials that can withstand significant force and wear without breaking. Brittle materials lack this strength and tend to fail easily under pressure.

D) Thick and heavy

This option is incorrect as 'thick and heavy' relates to the physical dimensions and weight of a material, not its structural integrity. Brittle materials can be thick or thin, but their defining characteristic is their tendency to break easily.

Conclusion

The correct definition of 'brittle' is that it means easily broken, which accurately reflects the characteristics of materials that lack the capacity to endure stress without fracturing. All other options fail to capture this essential quality, either misrepresenting the properties of materials or describing unrelated characteristics.