In this English vocabulary question, choose the option that is opposite in meaning to the word consensus, which is widely used in discussions about groups and decisions.

Introduction / Context:
Antonym questions test your understanding of a word by asking you to identify another word with the opposite meaning. The word consensus is frequently used in politics, management, and group decision making. It refers to a general agreement among all or most members of a group. This question asks you to choose the opposite idea, that is, a situation in which there is no agreement and possibly even active disagreement.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The target word is consensus.
• The options are: Accord, Discord, Consent, Unity.
• Only one option should express the opposite meaning.
• The context is general English for competitive examinations.

Concept / Approach:
Consensus means a general agreement or shared opinion in a group. Therefore, the antonym must denote lack of agreement or conflict in opinions. Among the options, discord clearly refers to disagreement, lack of harmony, or conflict between people or groups. Accord, consent, and unity all suggest forms of agreement, harmony, or togetherness, which are similar in tone to consensus rather than opposite to it.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Restate the meaning of consensus as general agreement or collective opinion.Step 2: Search for a word that implies the breakdown of such agreement.Step 3: Accord means agreement or harmony, so it is a synonym, not an antonym.Step 4: Discord means conflict, disagreement, or lack of harmony, which is directly opposite to consensus.Step 5: Consent denotes approval or permission, again a positive form of agreement.Step 6: Unity means being joined together or in agreement, which aligns with consensus, not against it.

Verification / Alternative Check:
Imagine a committee discussing a policy. If the members reach a consensus, they largely agree. If the meeting is full of discord, they argue and fail to agree. These two situations are opposite. On the other hand, if the members reach accord, show consent, or maintain unity, all these words reinforce the idea of agreement and harmony. This real world check between group agreement and group conflict confirms that discord is the true antonym of consensus.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Accord means agreement and harmony, which is nearly the same as consensus. Consent means giving approval or permission, which again supports agreement rather than opposition. Unity suggests togetherness and oneness, which goes hand in hand with consensus in group decisions. Thus, all three words are aligned with the positive and harmonious sense of consensus and cannot be chosen as antonyms.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners misread antonym questions as synonym questions and automatically choose words like accord or unity because they look familiar from similar passages. Another mistake is ignoring the prefix dis in discord, which often signals a negative or opposite idea such as in disapprove, disagree, or disconnect. Understanding these patterns and reading the instruction carefully helps you quickly spot discord as the word that expresses lack of agreement and therefore the correct opposite of consensus.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is Discord.