In the following vocabulary question, out of the four alternatives, select the word similar in meaning to the given phrasal verb: To Confront.

Introduction / Context:
This question assesses understanding of the verb “to confront” and asks for a word similar in meaning. In English, “to confront” means to face someone or something boldly, especially when there is conflict or difficulty. The options include verbs that mean the opposite, such as avoiding or backing away, as well as one verb that describes approaching someone boldly.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- Target verb: “To confront”. - Context: Facing a person or problem directly, often in a challenging manner. - Options: several verbs describing different behaviours, including avoiding, dodging, yielding, accosting, and retreating.

Concept / Approach:
“To confront” usually implies moving toward a person or problem, addressing it directly, and not avoiding it. The closest synonym among the options is “to accost”, which means to approach and often speak to someone boldly or aggressively. The other options describe actions that involve avoiding or giving way, which are opposite to confronting.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the meaning of “to confront”: to face somebody or something, often in a direct, sometimes challenging way. Step 2: Examine “To Accost”. This verb means to approach and often stop someone in a bold or aggressive manner, usually for conversation, questions, or confrontation. It therefore shares a sense of directness and bold approach. Step 3: Examine “To Avoid”. This means to stay away from something or someone, which is the reverse of confronting. Step 4: Examine “To Dodge”. This verb means to evade or move aside in order to avoid something, again opposite to confronting. Step 5: Examine “To Yield”. This means to give way or surrender, which describes a retreat rather than a direct approach. Step 6: Examine “To Retreat”. This clearly means to move back or withdraw, which is the exact opposite of moving forward to confront. Step 7: Since only “To Accost” shares the idea of boldly approaching someone, it is the correct synonym in this set.

Verification / Alternative check:
Consider a sample context: “The citizen decided to confront the corrupt official about the issue.” Replacing “confront” with “accost” gives “The citizen decided to accost the corrupt official about the issue.” This retains the idea of approaching and speaking directly. If we use any of the other verbs, the meaning reverses or becomes distorted: “avoid the official”, “dodge the issue”, “yield to the official”, or “retreat from the confrontation” all suggest not facing the problem.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
To Avoid: Means to stay away from something, which is the opposite of facing it. To Dodge: Implies moving to avoid something, not confronting it. To Yield: Means to give up or give way, indicating surrender rather than confrontation. To Retreat: Means to withdraw, again opposite to moving toward a person or issue.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners may confuse “confront” with general notions of conflict and mistakenly think it always implies physical fighting. In reality, it often refers to direct discussion or challenge. They may also focus only on emotional tone (aggressive versus mild) rather than direction of action (toward or away from the issue). Keeping both meaning and direction in mind helps correctly identify “accost” as the closest synonym.

Final Answer:
The word similar in meaning to “To Confront” is To Accost, as both describe directly approaching or facing someone, often in a challenging way.