Correct Answer:
C. Original
The question asks for the antonym of "facsimile." A facsimile is defined as an exact copy or reproduction of something, especially an old manuscript or map. To find its antonym, we need a word that means the opposite of a copy.
- Original: This is the correct antonym. The original is the first, authentic item from which copies are made. It is the unique source, not a reproduction.
- Duplicate: This is a synonym for facsimile, meaning an exact copy.
- Copy: This is also a synonym for facsimile, referring to a reproduction of something.
- Replica: This is another synonym, meaning a precise copy or model of something.
Thus, while duplicate, copy, and replica all denote reproductions, "original" stands as the direct opposite, representing the authentic source.