What does the word 'hardly' suggest about the new student's communication?

The word 'hardly' suggests a lack of frequency or intensity in the new student's communication. When someone communicates 'hardly', it implies that they are doing so very infrequently or with great difficulty. In this context, it indicates that the new student is not engaging in communication often, aligning perfectly with the meaning of 'rarely'. The choice of this option reflects an understanding of the nuanced meaning of 'hardly' as indicating something that occurs very infrequently.