Which sentence uses latent to describe something not yet visible?

• A. The latent talent surprised everyone when it finally emerged.
• B. The latent temptation was obvious.
• C. The latent problem is easy to solve.
• D. The latent feature is bright and obvious.

Answer: (A)

Latent describes something that exists but is not yet visible or developed. The best sentence uses latent to describe talent that is hidden inside someone and only becomes apparent when it emerges. That sense of potential waiting to be revealed fits perfectly: the talent is there, but it wasn’t seen until that moment it surfaced.

In the other sentences, the idea clashes with latent’s meaning. Saying temptation was obvious contradicts latent, which means hidden. Describing a latent feature as bright and obvious also wipes out the idea of it being hidden. A latent problem can exist beneath the surface, but pairing it with “easy to solve” shifts focus away from the hidden aspect and doesn’t capture the intended nuance.