Meaning of insurmountable

[Mili]

Test No. incompl/advan-2 "Spin Doctors", question 8

Unfortunately she has been given an ......... task.

(a) insurmountable
(b) undeveloped
(c) inoperable
(d) unsolved

Test No. incompl/advan-2 "Spin Doctors", answer 8

Unfortunately she has been given an insurmountable task.

Correct answer: (a) insurmountable
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I'd like tao know what insurmountable means and in what cases can be used

[Alan]

This means literally impossible to climb over and in this cae it describes a task/job that is almost impossible to complete.
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English as a Second Language
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[Guest]

Why not 'an inoperable task'?

[Mister Micawber]

The adjective is not applicable to tasks, Guest.

Inoperable: 1. Not functioning; inoperative. 2. Unsuitable for a surgical procedure: an inoperable tumor.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Nadeee]

In my german-english dictionary I also can find the meaning of "unclear" (unklar) when I'm checking up 'inoperable'. So the dictonary is wrong and I should forget this possibility?

[Alan]

Hi,

What exactly is your point?

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
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[Mister Micawber]

[Nadeee]

@Mister Micawber: Sadly it gives no examples, only translations. But good to know it's wrong, so there really was only one possibility to this question. Thanks a lot for your help! =)

@Alan: My point was to be sure there was really only one answer to the question.