The article states:

Question

In many of these cities, officials have drawn up legislation requiring that buildings be designed and constructed to endure earthquakes. But some cities, particularly those in developing countries, lack the resources to do this. There, people are rapidly putting up substandard buildings that can't withstand the force of the shaking earth.
Which would be the closest synonym for the word substandard?

Adjacent
Luxurious
Classical
Inferior

Answer 1

The closest synonym for the word "substandard" in this context is "inferior."