Select the nearest correct meaning or synonym of the capitalized word in the given sentence:
Hina’s ARDUOUS efforts had sapped her energy.
The word ‘arduous’ means demanding great effort or labour, which is nearest in meaning to ‘strenuous’ which means labourious, vigorous. The other three words: Over-ambitions - ambitious to an excessive degree; Sterile - barren; Apocryphal - of doubtful authorship.