Doubt in TC1

[klswethass]

A recent study suggests that vitamin E supplements, despite widespread belief in their __________ , are no better than sugar pills for delaying the onset of the degenerative disease.

A) potential

B) misuse

C) popularity

D) efficacy

E) prevalence

F) usefulness

This question is scary because in google usefulness is synonymous to both potential(second definition) and efficacy.
I marked potential even though efficacy fit better thinking they may not be synonyms…

1. How to deal with close options in SE, it literally confuses you for a good second
2. and also how frequent are such questions with 3 synonyms, I dint think they were possible until I saw this question.
3. I thought if there were 3 synonyms I can blindly reject them and just look at the other 3 words and choose the synonyms in those 3, not having to look at the question at all or maybe take a look just to cross-check?

@gregmat

[adityaumeshacharya]

Hey, I neither see potential in the direct synonyms list on google or the second definition option on the webpage. Here’s an screenshot. Also I do not think ETS would be this cruel to give 3 words with the same meaning.

[klswethass]

Hey Aditya,

Thank you! I think the key here is to see if usefulness has the synonyms under it but usefulness does come under the 2nd meaning of potential. Here is a screenshot.

[ajayvijay2005]

I think potential means - it “may” become useful in the “future”
as opposed to efficacy and usefulness

[klswethass]

Thank ajayvijay, that actually makes sense!!