Freeing embedded fossils from rock has become less_ for paleontologists, who now have tiny vibrating drills capable of working with great speed and delicacy.

Explanation

Correct Answer: C. tedious Explanation: The sentence suggests that freeing embedded fossils was previously tedious and has become less so with modern tools. Why other options are not correct: - A. exploratory: Exploratory does not convey the idea of the difficulty of freeing fossils. - B. conclusive: Conclusive is unrelated to the process of freeing fossils. - D. respected: Respected does not convey the idea of the difficulty of freeing fossils. - E. demeaning: Demeaning is not fitting in the context of the work of paleontologists.