Which term means 'short-lived; fleeting; not lasting'?

• A. perennial
• B. durable
• C. ephemeral
• D. permanent

Answer: (C)

Recognizing a word that conveys fleeting duration is key here. Ephemeral describes something that exists for a very short time—brief, transient, not lasting. That exact sense of brief existence is what the question is asking for, a notion of short-lived and passing quickly.

Think of it like a momentary glimpse of beauty or a passing trend that fades fast—these are ephemeral. By contrast, perennial refers to something long-lasting or yearly recurring; durable emphasizes sturdiness or long usefulness; permanent means lasting forever. Those terms point to longevity rather than brevity, so they don’t fit the prompt as well.

So the best choice captures the idea of being short-lived and fleeting: ephemeral.