Read this sentence from the selection . Without changing the meaning, the word "deteriorated" could best be replaced with A improved. B recuperated. C worsened. C D recovered. D After Sasha's birth, Barack and Michelle's relationship deteriorated even further.

## Step 1<br />The problem is asking us to find a synonym for the word "deteriorated" in the context of the sentence provided. The sentence is about the relationship between Barack and Michelle after Sasha's birth, which is described as having "deteriorated even further". <br /><br />## Step 2<br />The word "deteriorated" in this context means that the relationship is getting worse or declining. Therefore, we need to find a word among the options that carries the same meaning.<br /><br />## Step 3<br />Looking at the options, we can see that "improved" and "recuperated" both suggest a positive change or recovery, which is the opposite of "deteriorated". <br /><br />## Step 4<br />On the other hand, "worsened" and "recovered" both suggest a negative change or decline, which aligns with the meaning of "deteriorated". <br /><br />## Step 5<br />However, "recovered" also implies a return to a better state, which is not the same as "deteriorated". Therefore, the best replacement for "deteriorated" in this context is "worsened".