Select the synonym (word closest in meaning) of the phrasal verb "to subsume".

Introduction / Context:
This question tests knowledge of advanced vocabulary, specifically the verb to subsume. Such words often appear in academic writing, philosophy, or discussions of classification. Finding the correct synonym means identifying another verb that expresses the idea of including something within a larger category or system.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- Target verb: to subsume. - Options: to bate, to obviate, to preclude, to incorporate. - Only one option should convey the idea of including something within a larger whole. - The context is usually logical classification or organisational structure.

Concept / Approach:
To subsume something means to include it within something else, often a broader category. For example, one can say that specific cases are subsumed under a general rule. The verb to incorporate closely matches this idea, as it means to include or integrate parts into a larger unit. The other options describe reducing, preventing, or eliminating rather than including.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that to subsume is used in sentences like The concept of animal is used to subsume dogs, cats, and horses. Step 2: Examine to incorporate, which means to include something as part of a whole or to combine things into a larger structure. Step 3: Notice that this meaning aligns well with subsume, as both involve bringing smaller elements under a larger category. Step 4: Consider to bate, which means to lessen or reduce, especially in older or literary English, and does not involve inclusion. Step 5: Look at to obviate, which means to remove a need or difficulty, and to preclude, which means to prevent something from happening. Step 6: These three verbs describe removal or prevention rather than integration, so they cannot be synonyms of subsume.

Verification / Alternative check:
Use sample sentences for comparison. The new policy subsumes all earlier guidelines can be rephrased as The new policy incorporates all earlier guidelines. The meaning remains very similar. However, replacing subsumes with obviates or precludes would change the sentence to suggest removal or prevention, which is incorrect. Using bate would suggest reducing something, again conflicting with the intended idea of inclusion. This confirms that incorporate is the correct synonym.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
To bate is associated mainly with reducing intensity or amount and does not have the sense of grouping or classifying. To obviate focuses on removing an obstacle or need and is usually followed by words like problem or difficulty. To preclude means to make something impossible by acting first and often appears in contexts like preclude error or preclude competition. None of these verbs refer to gathering elements under a larger heading.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates may confuse subsume with obscure or formal sounding words that they have seen only rarely, such as obviate or preclude. This happens when they rely on surface similarity rather than meaning. A useful approach is to learn advanced verbs with clear example pairs, such as subsume or incorporate, obviate or remove the need for, preclude or prevent, and then recall the pair that matches the question context.

Final Answer:
to incorporate is the correct synonym of to subsume.