In the following question, choose the word which is similar in meaning to the given word Congregation.

Introduction / Context:
This question tests understanding of the noun congregation, a word frequently used in religious, social and organisational contexts. Recognising its meaning helps in interpreting descriptions of meetings, gatherings and communities, especially in formal and literary writing.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Target word: Congregation.
• Options: Discussion, Attention, Contraction, Assembly and Separation.
• We assume the usual sense of a group of people gathered together, especially for worship or a common purpose.
• The correct synonym should describe the gathering of people, not the action or quality.

Concept / Approach:
The noun congregation refers to a group of people assembled for religious worship or, more generally, any gathering or assembled body. The closest straightforward synonym in the list is assembly, which also means a group of people gathered in one place for a common reason. Discussion describes the act of talking about something, attention refers to mental focus, contraction is a process of becoming smaller, and separation is the act of dividing or moving apart. None of these express the idea of a gathered group.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Define congregation as a gathering of people, often for religious worship.
Step 2: Examine each option to see which one refers to a group of people rather than an action or process.
Step 3: Identify assembly as a noun that means a group of people gathered together for a shared purpose.
Step 4: Check that discussion, attention, contraction and separation relate to actions or processes rather than crowds or gatherings.
Step 5: Choose assembly as the synonym that best matches congregation.

Verification / Alternative check:
Example sentences support this match: The congregation gathered in the church for the evening service can be rephrased as The assembly gathered in the church for the evening service with only a small shift in nuance. In contrast, using discussion or attention in place of congregation does not make sense. Contraction and separation refer to physical or conceptual processes, not to groups. This confirms that assembly is the appropriate synonym in this context.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, Discussion, refers to people talking about a topic, not the group itself. A discussion can take place within a congregation, but they are different concepts. Option B, Attention, is a mental state of focusing and cannot replace a noun that denotes a group of people. Option C, Contraction, is a process of becoming smaller or of muscles shortening and is unrelated. Option E, Separation, means moving apart or division, which is actually the opposite of gathering. Therefore, these options do not represent the meaning of congregation.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may confuse congregation with conversation or discussion because all three involve people in some form of interaction. However, congregation emphasises the group itself, not what it is doing. Learning to distinguish nouns that denote actions from those that denote groups is important for solving synonym questions accurately. Reading descriptions of meetings, religious services and assemblies will reinforce the correct use of words like congregation and assembly.

Final Answer:
The word similar in meaning to Congregation is Assembly.