Marco won a trophy each of the three × he competed in the junior tennis tournament, but still the first prize eluded him.

Rationale

Marco won a trophy each of the three times he competed in the junior tennis tournament, but still the first prize eluded him.

The word "eluded" is correctly used here to convey that the first prize escaped Marco's grasp despite his successes in other trophies. It suggests that he was unable to achieve the top prize he was striving for, fitting perfectly within the context of the sentence.

A (eluded) CORRECT

This choice correctly indicates that the first prize escaped Marco. The verb "elude" means to evade or escape, which is appropriate given the context of the sentence where Marco is expressing a lack of success in winning the first prize.

B (alluded) YOUR ANSWER

"Alluded" means to suggest or indirectly refer to something. This choice does not fit the context because the sentence is about Marco's inability to win the first prize, not about making a reference to it.

C (elided) YOUR ANSWER

"Elided" means to omit or leave out. This choice is incorrect as it does not convey the idea of something escaping or being unattained, which is the intended meaning in the context of the sentence regarding Marco's competition results.

D (allied) YOUR ANSWER

"Allied" refers to being joined or united with others. This choice is not appropriate in this context, as it does not relate to the concept of winning or missing a prize, but rather implies a connection or partnership, which is irrelevant to Marco's achievements.

Conclusion

The term "eluded" accurately describes the situation where Marco was unable to attain the first prize in the tournament, despite his success in winning other trophies. The other options fail to capture the intended meaning of escaping or being unattainable, reinforcing the specific context of competition and achievement.