The ship went down although strenuous efforts were made to save it.

* Hướng dẫn giải

- strenuous (adj): tích cực >< half-hearted (adj): nửa vời, không nỗ lực hết mình

Ex: He made strenous efforts to pass the entrance university exam.

- forceful = assertive (adj): quyết tâm

Ex: a forceful personality.