Coworker: “I heard that the computer virus is rather innocuous.” Yes, it can quickly destroy your hard drive. Yes, it makes your computer completely useless. Yes, it is very difficult to detect. Yes, it is pretty harmless. Yes, it proceeds very slowly.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct response is: Yes, it is pretty harmless.
Explanation
The coworker claims that the computer virus is rather innocuous, meaning it is not harmful or is relatively harmless. The word “innocuous” is key here—it comes from Latin roots meaning “not harmful” and is used in English to describe things that don’t cause damage or danger.
When evaluating the possible responses, only “Yes, it is pretty harmless” agrees with the idea that the virus is innocuous. All the other options contradict that claim by listing damaging effects:
- “Yes, it can quickly destroy your hard drive” implies severe harm.
- “Yes, it makes your computer completely useless” suggests the virus is highly destructive.
- “Yes, it is very difficult to detect” may indicate it’s stealthy, but not necessarily harmless.
- “Yes, it proceeds very slowly” speaks to its pace but doesn’t clarify whether it’s harmful or not.
These responses either imply the virus is dangerous or hard to detect, neither of which aligns with the term “innocuous.”
The only answer that accurately reflects the statement is “Yes, it is pretty harmless.” This option matches the meaning of “innocuous” and suggests the virus doesn’t cause major damage, perhaps something like a nuisance pop-up or minor performance lag, rather than system destruction or data loss.
This is a classic example of understanding vocabulary in context. Many test questions or real-world scenarios hinge on your ability to recognize synonyms, interpret intent, and filter out contradictions. In this case, knowing the definition of “innocuous” allows you to dismiss all the responses that describe serious consequences, leaving only the logically consistent one
