In the following English vocabulary question, select the word which is most nearly opposite in meaning to the given word “dissension”, that is, serious disagreement or conflict within a group.

Introduction / Context:
Dissension is a common word in English vocabulary questions, especially in competitive exams that test antonyms and synonyms. It refers to disagreement, conflict, or a lack of harmony within a group, team, family, or organisation. In this question, the learner is asked to identify the word that is opposite in meaning to dissension. Understanding this contrast helps build stronger vocabulary and improves reading comprehension in passages that talk about disputes, politics, or social situations.

Given Data / Assumptions:
The key points to note in this question are as follows:

• The word given is dissension, which refers to disagreement or discord.
• The options talk about different types of relationships and interactions between people or groups.
• We must select the word which expresses an opposite meaning, that is, agreement and peace.
• We assume the context is general English usage, not a technical field.

Concept / Approach:
To solve antonym questions, you should first be very clear about the meaning of the given word. Dissension means strong disagreement, especially that leads to tension and division. Once the meaning is clear, the next step is to search among the options for a word that suggests the reverse idea. The reverse of conflict is harmony, that is, a state of peace, agreement, and mutual understanding. Therefore, the approach is to match each option with the idea of conflict or the idea of peace and identify which one is truly opposite to dissension.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that dissension means disagreement, dispute, or discord within a group. Step 2: Read option a, which talks about disagreement and internal conflict. This clearly repeats the meaning of dissension, so it is similar, not opposite. Step 3: Read option b, which talks about friendly understanding, peace, and unity within a group. This expresses the idea of harmony, the direct opposite of conflict or dissension. Step 4: Read option c, which mentions a noisy public argument, again suggesting conflict and dispute, so it is similar to dissension. Step 5: Read option d, which speaks of open hostility and bitterness, again close in sense to dissension, not opposite. Step 6: Conclude that only option b truly gives the opposite meaning.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick verification strategy is to pair each option with the word harmony. Dissension and harmony are clear opposites. If an option feels like harmony, it is likely the correct antonym. Option b explicitly mentions friendly understanding, peace, and unity, all of which align with harmony. The other options keep the feeling of quarrelling or conflict. This cross check confirms that option b is the correct antonym of dissension.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option a is wrong because it describes disagreement and internal conflict, which closely matches the meaning of dissension rather than opposing it. Option c is wrong because a noisy public argument is another form of dispute and therefore supports the idea of dissension. Option d is wrong because open hostility and bitterness also show serious disagreement and tension, again similar to dissension. None of these reflect peace, unity, or agreement.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to confuse similar words with opposites, especially when all options revolve around conflict. Students sometimes feel that any extreme word must be the answer. However, antonym questions demand the exact reverse meaning, not a stronger or weaker version of the same idea. Another pitfall is ignoring keywords such as unity, peace, and friendly, which clearly signal the opposite of conflict. Learners should slow down and compare each option with the central idea of dissension to avoid guessing.

Final Answer:
The word opposite in meaning to dissension is friendly understanding, peace, and unity within a group, which represents harmony and therefore correctly functions as the antonym.