The scuba instructor said that the occasional nurse shark might swim near the reef, but it is not aggressive species. Seeing a shark was improbable, but he said not to panic if we do.

What dose the term improbable mean in this context?

answers:

difficult

unpredictable

harmless

unlikely

unlikely

In this context, the term "improbable" means unlikely.

To determine the meaning of the term "improbable" in this context, we can break it down into its parts. The prefix "im-" in English often means "not" or "opposite." In this case, it suggests that the situation being described is not likely to happen. The root word "probable" refers to something that is likely or possible to occur.

So, in the context of the scuba instructor's statement, "improbable" means unlikely. It indicates that the chances of seeing a shark near the reef are not high or expected. Therefore, the correct answer is "unlikely."