Question 1

Synonym selection (vocabulary – meaning of "commensurate"): Choose the word that best expresses the meaning. Target word: COMMENSURATE Instruction: Select the closest standard-English synonym meaning "proportionate; corresponding in size or degree."

Accepted Answer

Meaning Commensurate means in proportion to; corresponding in amount, size, or degree. Option analysis Proportionate — exact synonym. ✅Disproportionate — opposite. ❌Equal — may overlap in some contexts but does not always imply proportionality across attributes. ❌Minimal — degree only; not correspondence. ❌ Usage Pay should be commensurate with experience → Pay should be proportionate to experience. Final Answer Proportionate

Question 2

Synonym selection (vocabulary – meaning of "debacle"): Choose the word that best expresses the meaning. Target word: DEBACLE Instruction: Select the closest standard-English synonym meaning "a sudden, disastrous collapse; a complete failure."

Accepted Answer

Meaning A debacle is a sudden and ignominious failure; a total collapse. Option analysis Fiasco — complete, humiliating failure; best synonym. ✅Triumph / Success — antonyms. ❌Prelude — something that comes before; not a failure. ❌ Usage The event turned into a debacle → The event turned into a fiasco. Final Answer Fiasco

Question 3

Synonym selection (vocabulary – meaning of "germane"): Choose the word that best expresses the meaning. Target word: GERMANE Instruction: Select the closest standard-English synonym meaning "relevant; closely related to the subject at hand."

Accepted Answer

Meaning Germane means closely related to the topic; pertinent. Option analysis Relevant — direct synonym. ✅Irrelevant / Foreign / Alien — unrelated or off-topic; antonyms. ❌ Usage Only germane comments will be considered → Only relevant comments will be considered. Final Answer Relevant

Question 4

Synonyms (vocabulary): Choose the word that best expresses the meaning of the given word  Target word: DISTINCTION Select the most appropriate synonym from the options provided.

Accepted Answer

Given data Word: distinction Task: Identify the closest synonym in standard English usage. Meaning Distinction most commonly means a difference or feature that sets something apart; also, excellence or honor in some contexts. The sense intended in vocabulary items is typically “difference” or differentiation. Option analysis Differentiation — best synonym for “difference; distinguishing.”Uniformity — sameness; opposite of distinction.Obscurity — state of being unknown/unclear; not “difference.”Confusion — disorder/lack of clarity; not “difference.” Final Answer Differentiation

Question 5

Vocabulary – Choose the option that best expresses the meaning of the highlighted word in the sentence. Sentence: It is very difficult to “retain” all that you hear in the class.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: The sentence discusses memory and learning. The verb “retain” in educational contexts generally means “to keep in memory” rather than “to retrieve” at a later time. We must select the closest meaning among the choices provided. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: retain (classroom context). Sense focus: keeping information stored in memory. Options include near-synonyms with slightly different shades. Concept / Approach: Differentiate “retain” from “recall.” “Retain” emphasizes storage; “recall” emphasizes retrieval. “Preserve” and “conserve” are more physical or resource-management oriented and are less idiomatic for mental processes. “Keep” maps directly to the idea of continued holding, including in memory, making it the best one-word paraphrase here. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify the semantic field: learning and memory.Match to the storage phase: retain ≈ keep (in memory).Compare alternatives: recall = bring back to mind, which is a different phase.Eliminate domain-mismatched words: preserve/conserve apply to objects or resources. Verification / Alternative check: Paraphrase: “It is difficult to keep everything you hear in memory.” This preserves the original meaning precisely, confirming “keep.” Why Other Options Are Wrong: recall: Retrieval, not storage; related but not equivalent. preserve: Physical maintenance, less natural for memory in this sentence. conserve: Saving resources/energy; does not fit the mental lexicon context. Common Pitfalls: Learners often conflate memory retention with recall performance. Someone may retain knowledge yet momentarily fail to recall it during a test. Final Answer: keep

Question 6

Vocabulary – Choose the option that best expresses the meaning of the highlighted word in the sentence. Sentence: The great artist’s life was full of “vicissitudes.”

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: “Vicissitudes” is a formal noun used in biographies and history to describe the ups and downs that occur over time. The key is to capture the idea of fluctuation or change, not only negative experiences. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: vicissitudes. Context: a life narrative with many phases. Options mix negative emotions with neutral descriptors of variation. Concept / Approach: While vicissitudes can include hardships, its core meaning is “changes in circumstances,” often alternating favorable and unfavorable conditions. Therefore, the most accurate one-word rendering is “changes.” Words like “sorrows” or “misfortunes” restrict the meaning to negative aspects only and are too narrow. Step-by-Step Solution: Determine the semantic core: alternation/variation over time.Select the neutral, encompassing term: “changes.”Check other choices: they focus on only one valence (negative) or on unexpectedness (“surprises”).Confirm usage in biographical prose: “the vicissitudes of life” = “the changes of life.” Verification / Alternative check: Replace in sentence: “life was full of changes” preserves meaning without adding negative bias, validating the choice. Why Other Options Are Wrong: sorrows: captures sadness only; too narrow. misfortunes: emphasizes bad luck; not all vicissitudes are bad. surprises: stresses unexpectedness rather than alternation. Common Pitfalls: Assuming “vicissitudes” is purely negative. It denotes variability, not exclusively adversity. Final Answer: changes

Question 7

Vocabulary – Choose the option that best expresses the meaning of the highlighted word in the sentence. Sentence: She has an “insatiable” love for music.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: “Insatiable” describes an appetite or desire that cannot be satisfied no matter how much is supplied. In the sentence, it characterizes a strong, never-ending love for music. We must choose the word that most directly conveys “cannot be satisfied.” Given Data / Assumptions: Target adjective: insatiable. Domain: intensity/degree of desire. Options include words about stability, incompatibility, and preference. Concept / Approach: The closest paraphrase is “unsatisfiable,” which explicitly encodes the impossibility of satisfying the desire. Other options drift to unrelated meanings (unchanging = constant, irreconcilable = cannot be brought into harmony, undesirable = not wanted) and do not capture the “never enough” sense. Step-by-Step Solution: Map insatiable → impossible to satisfy.Match with “unsatisfiable.”Reject options that address different axes (stability, compatibility, desirability).Confirm idiomaticity: “insatiable appetite” ≈ “unsatisfiable appetite.” Verification / Alternative check: Try substitution: “an unsatisfiable love for music” preserves the sense of limitless desire. Dictionaries define insatiable as “impossible to satisfy,” aligning one-to-one with the chosen option. Why Other Options Are Wrong: unchanging: Means constant; does not imply never satisfied. irreconcilable: About conflict resolution, not appetite. undesirable: Negative preference; orthogonal to intensity of desire. Common Pitfalls: Confusing “insatiable” with “inextinguishable” or “unchanging.” Insatiable centers on satisfaction level, not mere persistence. Final Answer: unsatisfiable

Question 8

Vocabulary – Choose the synonym that best matches the highlighted word in the sentence. Sentence: The great dancer impressed the appreciative crowd by his “nimble” movements.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: “Nimble” describes movements that are quick, light, and agile. In performance arts, it points to deft footwork and alert coordination rather than merely speed or clarity. Our task is to select the closest synonym in this context. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: nimble (dance context). Audience reaction: appreciative crowd. Options include antonyms or loosely related descriptors. Concept / Approach: Among the choices, “lively” best captures the agile, spirited quality implied by nimble. “Quickening” is a participle meaning “making quicker,” not a property of the dancer. “Clear” is about visibility or lucidity, and “unrhythmic” is an antonym unrelated to agility. Step-by-Step Solution: Define nimble → light, agile, quick in movement.Match semantic field: “lively” suggests energetic, sprightly motion consistent with agility.Eliminate mismatches: “quickening” (causative), “clear” (non-kinetic), “unrhythmic” (negative rhythm quality).Confirm collocation: “lively movements” is standard in dance reviews. Verification / Alternative check: Substitute: “impressed … by his lively movements” preserves the positive, agile nuance. Reviews often pair nimble with “lively,” “light-footed,” or “agile.” Why Other Options Are Wrong: Unrhythmic: Opposes rhythmic skill; not a synonym. quickening: Describes an action of making faster; not an inherent movement quality. clear: Concerns visibility/clarity, not motion traits. Common Pitfalls: Selecting a word that implies only speed. Nimbleness is about agility and deftness, not just moving fast. Final Answer: lively

Question 9

Vocabulary – Choose the option that best expresses the meaning of the highlighted word in the sentence. Sentence: The visitor had a “bohemian” look.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: “Bohemian,” in fashion and lifestyle contexts, refers to a free-spirited, artistic, and unconventional style. It does not imply hostility or moral judgment; it signals nonconformity in dress, grooming, or outlook. Given Data / Assumptions: Target adjective: bohemian (lowercase for style; uppercase “Bohemian” historically relates to Bohemia). Collocation: “bohemian look” in everyday English. We seek a meaning, not a nationality or attitude. Concept / Approach: The closest paraphrase is “unconventional.” A bohemian look features non-mainstream combinations, handcrafted elements, and artistic flair. Words like “hostile,” “sinister,” and “unfriendly” describe attitude or threat, not style, and thus are off-axis. Step-by-Step Solution: Anchor domain: appearance/style.Map term: bohemian → unconventional, free-spirited, artistic.Eliminate attitude/ethos words: hostile, sinister, unfriendly are unrelated to dress aesthetics.Confirm usage: “boho style” is widely glossed as unconventional. Verification / Alternative check: Substitute: “had an unconventional look” keeps the sentence meaning intact, validating the choice. Why Other Options Are Wrong: hostile: Suggests aggression; not a style descriptor. sinister: Implies menace; not a synonym of bohemian. unfriendly: Social attitude, not appearance. Common Pitfalls: Confusing cultural/historical “Bohemian” with modern “bohemian” style. In contemporary usage, the fashion sense dominates in such contexts. Final Answer: unconventional

Question 10

Vocabulary – Choose the option that best expresses the meaning of the highlighted word in the sentence. Sentence: The bullet wound proved to be “fatal” and the soldier died immediately.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: “Fatal” injuries are those that cause death. The sentence itself states the soldier died immediately, reinforcing the death-causing sense. We must pick the closest synonym that specifically encodes lethality, not just severity. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: fatal. Context clue: “died immediately.” Distractors refer to severity without necessarily implying death. Concept / Approach: Choose the synonym that denotes “causing death.” “Deadly” precisely matches. Words like “serious,” “dangerous,” and “grievous” indicate severity or harm but do not mean death is certain or has occurred. Step-by-Step Solution: Define: fatal → causing death.Match: deadly → lethal; same semantic core.Eliminate near-synonyms lacking lethality: serious, grievous, dangerous.Use the sentence’s outcome to confirm: “died immediately” aligns with deadly. Verification / Alternative check: Paraphrase: “The wound proved deadly” is idiomatic and preserves the factual outcome, confirming the equivalence. Why Other Options Are Wrong: grievous: Very severe/painful; not necessarily fatal. dangerous: Poses risk; may or may not cause death. serious: Severe or significant; does not entail lethality. Common Pitfalls: Equating intensity with lethality. Only “deadly” guarantees the “causes death” meaning in a single adjective. Final Answer: deadly

Question 11

Vocabulary – Choose the option that best expresses the meaning of the highlighted word in the sentence. Sentence: The attitude of Western countries towards the Third-World countries is rather “callous,” to say the least.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: “Callous” describes a person or policy that is emotionally hardened and shows no sympathy. In international-relations commentary, labeling an attitude as callous criticizes its lack of compassion toward suffering in poorer nations. We must pick the closest meaning among the options. Given Data / Assumptions: Target word: callous. Context: moral evaluation of national attitudes/policies. Options range from neutral stance (passive) to moral qualities (unkind, unfeeling). Concept / Approach: The best single-word synonym is “unfeeling,” which directly captures emotional hardness. “Unkind” is broader and can include active cruelty; “passive” refers to inactivity, not lack of feeling; “cursed” is irrelevant and archaic in this context. Step-by-Step Solution: Define: callous → emotionally insensitive; hardened; indifferent to suffering.Match: unfeeling → lacking sympathy or pity.Eliminate near-fits: unkind (too general), passive (not about empathy), cursed (off-topic).Confirm with context: criticism focuses on empathy deficit, i.e., unfeeling. Verification / Alternative check: Paraphrase: “their attitude is unfeeling” reads naturally and preserves the evaluative thrust. Why Other Options Are Wrong: passive: About action level, not emotional sensitivity. unkind: Might fit partially but lacks the “insensate” nuance. cursed: Not semantically related to empathy. Common Pitfalls: Confusing inactivity with insensitivity. Policies can be actively harmful yet “unfeeling”; conversely, passivity might be empathetic but ineffective. Final Answer: unfeeling

Question 12

English Vocabulary — Choose the closest meaning (contextual synonym). Sentence: In spite of their efforts, the team of scientists could not make much headway to solve the problem.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests your ability to recognize contextual synonyms used in formal writing. The phrase “make much headway” frequently appears in research reports, news articles, and project updates to describe the amount of progress achieved. Understanding this idiom helps you read academic and professional texts with accuracy. Given Data / Assumptions: The clause is: “could not make much headway.” Domain context: scientific team working to solve a problem. Options relate to nouns that could replace “headway.” We must choose the word closest in meaning while preserving the sentence logic. Concept / Approach: “Headway” in modern English means “forward movement or progress toward a goal.” In research contexts, it specifically means measurable advancement. Therefore, the best single-word replacement is “progress.” Alternatives like “start” or “thinking” do not convey advancement toward a target; “efforts” describes input rather than outcome. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify the idiom: headway = forward movement toward a result.Align with context: a team working on a problem implies measurement of advancement.Map to the closest noun: “progress.”Check sentence: “could not make much progress” reads naturally and preserves meaning. Verification / Alternative check: Replace directly: “In spite of their efforts, the team of scientists could not make much progress to solve the problem.” This keeps the semantics identical and is idiomatic in formal English. Many style guides explicitly list “headway = progress.” Why Other Options Are Wrong: thinking: Refers to mental activity, not advancement. efforts: Describes attempts/input, not results/outcome. start: Means beginning; not ongoing advancement. Common Pitfalls: Learners sometimes confuse input (“effort”) with output (“progress”). Also, they may guess “start” because headway sounds like “heading off,” but context demands outcome, not initiation. Final Answer: progress

Question 13

English Vocabulary — Choose the closest meaning (contextual synonym). Sentence: On scrutiny, the police officer found that the documents provided by the landlord were totally fabricated.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Legal and investigative writing often uses precise vocabulary for false documents. The word “fabricated,” when applied to documents, means they are false or faked. Your task is to select the option that most accurately captures that meaning in this policing context. Given Data / Assumptions: Context: a police officer examining paperwork. Key adjective: “fabricated” describing documents. We need a synonym that matches legal/investigative usage. Concept / Approach: In document forensics, “fabricated,” “forged,” and “counterfeit” are semantically close. “Forged” is the standard adjective for documents created or altered dishonestly. Options like “historical” and “prepared” are neutral descriptors and do not convey falsity; “genuine” is the direct opposite (authentic/real). Step-by-Step Solution: Interpret “fabricated” as “made up/faked.”Pick the legal-precision synonym: “forged.”Ensure collocation: “forged documents” is a common legal phrase.Reject antonyms or irrelevant descriptors. Verification / Alternative check: Substitute: “the documents … were totally forged.” This is idiomatic in police reports and matches real-world phrasing used by investigators and courts. Why Other Options Are Wrong: historical: Refers to age/past, not authenticity. prepared: Neutral process verb; does not entail truth value. genuine: Antonym of fabricated; means authentic. Common Pitfalls: Confusing “fabricated” with “prepared.” In legal English, “fabricated evidence/documents” always implies deception, not mere creation. Final Answer: forged

Question 14

English Vocabulary — Choose the closest meaning (contextual synonym). Sentence (corrected): Lack of occupation is not necessarily revealed by manifest idleness.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: The stem contrasts hidden unemployment or under-occupation with outward behavior. The word under test is “manifest,” a high-frequency academic adjective meaning “clear” or “obvious.” Your goal is to select the closest paraphrase that keeps the sentence's logic intact. Given Data / Assumptions: Key adjective: manifest. Clause: “manifest idleness.” Register: formal/essayistic English. We need a meaning that fits a description of visibility or obviousness. Concept / Approach: “Manifest” means “readily apparent,” “plain,” or “evident.” Among the options, only “easily perceived” captures that sense. The other options introduce different ideas (acquisition, infection, deflection) that do not relate to visibility or clarity, making them semantically incompatible with “idleness.” Step-by-Step Solution: Interpret “manifest” → evident/obvious.Map to candidate paraphrases: “easily perceived” matches directly.Check sentence coherence after substitution.Confirm that the other options do not fit the collocation with “idleness.” Verification / Alternative check: Replace in text: “not necessarily revealed by easily perceived idleness.” The idea becomes explicit: even if idleness looks obvious, it may not signal lack of occupation. The choice preserves the intended logic of caution against superficial judgments. Why Other Options Are Wrong: easily acquired: About ability to get something; wrong semantic field. easily infected: Medical/biological; irrelevant. easily deflected: Physics/trajectory metaphor; contextually off. Common Pitfalls: Reading “manifest” as “manifesto” or assuming it means “list/document.” In adjectives, “manifest” nearly always means obvious or apparent. Final Answer: easily perceived

Question 15

English Vocabulary — Choose the closest meaning (contextual synonym). Sentence: The accident occurred due to his lapse.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: In safety, medicine, aviation, and quality control, the noun “lapse” commonly denotes a slip, failure, or error, especially a brief one such as a lapse in concentration or a lapse in judgment. The task is to pick the nearest meaning in this cause-and-effect sentence about an accident. Given Data / Assumptions: Key noun: lapse (after “due to”). Event: an accident occurred. We must select the synonym that logically explains an accident. Concept / Approach: “Lapse” often collocates with “error,” as in “human error” or “lapse of attention.” “Interval” means a period of time; “trick” implies deception; “ignorance” is lack of knowledge, which could cause errors but is not the direct synonym of “lapse” in standard incident reports. The most accurate, general synonym here is “error.” Step-by-Step Solution: Identify cause phrase: “due to his lapse.”Map “lapse” → slip/error/failure.Test substitution: “due to his error.”Check coherence: explains accident straightforwardly. Verification / Alternative check: Other common collocations: “lapse in concentration,” “lapse of memory,” “lapse in judgment,” each points to some kind of error or failure, reinforcing that “error” is the best fit here. Why Other Options Are Wrong: trick: Implies intentional deceit; accidents are usually unintended. interval: Time span; not causal for an accident by itself. ignorance: A broader cause; not the lexical equivalent of “lapse.” Common Pitfalls: Confusing causes (ignorance) with event-type (error). “Lapse” names the slip itself, not the underlying knowledge deficit. Final Answer: error

Question 16

English Vocabulary — Choose the closest meaning (contextual synonym). Sentence: Sunlight and shadow made the landscape a kaleidoscope of colour.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Writers often use “kaleidoscope” metaphorically to describe scenes that change rapidly and display varied colors or patterns. The question checks whether you can distinguish the literal, device-level meaning from the figurative sense frequently used in literature and journalism. Given Data / Assumptions: Key metaphor: “a kaleidoscope of colour.” Scene: a landscape alternating between sunlight and shadow. We must choose the paraphrase that captures the metaphorical meaning, not just the literal device. Concept / Approach: Literally, a kaleidoscope is a tube with mirrors and colored fragments that form shifting patterns when rotated. Figuratively, it means “a constantly changing and variegated display.” The sentence clearly uses the figurative sense to describe nature’s dynamic visual effect, so the best answer is the paraphrase emphasizing frequent change and bright scenes. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify figurative language: kaleidoscope = ever-changing display.Match to options: choose the one referencing “frequently changing” and “bright scenes.”Verify the fit with sunlight and shadow interplay.Confirm that the literal definition is not intended here. Verification / Alternative check: Paraphrase the sentence with the chosen option: “Sunlight and shadow made the landscape a frequently changing pattern of bright scenes.” This maintains imagery and meaning. Why Other Options Are Wrong: tube containing mirrors …: Literal definition; the sentence is metaphorical. a mixture of black and white: Too narrow; ignores the color emphasis. resembling the seven colours of rainbow: Static description; misses changeability. Common Pitfalls: Picking the dictionary literal definition of “kaleidoscope” when the sentence clearly uses figurative language. Always check for metaphors and context clues like “sunlight and shadow.” Final Answer: frequently changing pattern of bright scenes

Question 17

English Vocabulary — Choose the closest meaning (contextual synonym). Sentence: After the dismal performance of the team in the series that concluded yesterday, the captain offered his resignation to the president of the club.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Sports writing uses evaluative adjectives to summarize form and outcomes. “Dismal” in performance contexts means very bad or poor. You need the option that conveys this negative assessment without changing the sentence's register or meaning. Given Data / Assumptions: Key adjective: dismal (qualifying “performance”). Context: competitive series finished recently. Effect: captain offers resignation (reinforces negative performance). Concept / Approach: “Dismal” can mean gloomy or depressing; in metrics-based contexts like matches or exams, it aligns with “poor” or “very bad.” Words like “sorrowful,” “minimum,” or “short” do not adequately express performance quality; they shift to emotions or different dimensions (quantity, duration). Step-by-Step Solution: Interpret in sports register: dismal = poor/bad results.Eliminate options that change the evaluative axis.Choose “poor.”Confirm with consequence: resignation fits a poor run. Verification / Alternative check: Headline-style paraphrase: “After a poor performance … the captain resigned.” This is idiomatic and commonly used in sports reporting, validating the choice. Why Other Options Are Wrong: sorrowful: Emotion, not performance quality. minimum: Quantity/degree, not evaluation. short: Duration or length; irrelevant to quality. Common Pitfalls: Equating “dismal” only with mood or sadness. In results contexts, prioritize the quality/effectiveness sense (“poor performance”). Final Answer: poor

Question 18

English Vocabulary — Choose the closest meaning (contextual synonym). Sentence: We didn't believe his statement, but subsequent events proved that he was right.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Temporal adjectives like “subsequent,” “prior,” and “previous” are common in reports and histories. Recognizing their relationships allows precise timeline reading. Here, “subsequent events” indicates time points that followed the initial disbelief. Given Data / Assumptions: Target adjective: subsequent. Reference time: when the statement was first doubted. We need a single-word paraphrase that preserves temporal order. Concept / Approach: “Subsequent” means “later” or “following in time.” Antonyms include “previous” and “prior,” paraphrased as “earlier.” Words like “many” or “few” describe quantity, not temporal sequence, and thus do not answer the question asked by the stem. Step-by-Step Solution: Map: subsequent → later.Check sentence fit: “but later events proved …”Discard non-temporal distractors (many/few).Note “earlier” is the opposite, not a synonym. Verification / Alternative check: Restate: “We didn’t believe him then, but later events proved he was right.” The narrative timeline reads smoothly and is widely used in journalism and biographies. Why Other Options Are Wrong: many: Quantity, not order. few: Quantity, not order. earlier: Antonym of subsequent. Common Pitfalls: Confusing temporal order with numerical count. Always anchor the adjective to the timeline it modifies. Final Answer: later

Question 19

English Vocabulary — Choose the closest meaning (contextual synonym). Sentence (corrected): The pioneers left a blazing trail of courage, manliness, and chivalry.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: The word “pioneers” is associated with the first people to explore or settle a new area. In historical writing, it often leans toward those who establish communities on new frontiers. Given the collocation with “trail,” a frontier/settlement sense is strongly evoked in the sentence. Given Data / Assumptions: Key noun: pioneers. Clue word: “trail” (frontier imagery). We must choose the option that best captures first movers into a region. Concept / Approach: “Pioneer” can denote an early explorer, but in frontier narratives it commonly means a first settler who founds homes, farms, or towns. Among the options, “settlers” fits this frontier connotation most precisely. “Explorers” emphasizes discovery without habitation; “inventors” create devices or techniques; “colonialist” is a political label and mismatches number/usage (also spelled “colonialist” as a count noun but not the closest match here). Step-by-Step Solution: Link context words: pioneers + trail → frontier settlement.Compare nuanced meanings: settlers vs. explorers.Choose the term that implies establishing residence: settlers.Confirm idiomatic fit in historical prose. Verification / Alternative check: Paraphrase: “The settlers left a blazing trail of courage …” This is standard phrasing in frontier histories, biographies, and textbooks, matching the sentence's tone and imagery. Why Other Options Are Wrong: inventors: Create inventions; unrelated to territorial expansion. explorers: Travel to discover; do not necessarily settle. colonialist: Political ideology/agent of colonial policy; not the neutral frontier sense intended. Common Pitfalls: Treating “pioneer” only as “explorer.” In many curricula, the primary school sense stresses founding settlements, which better aligns with “settlers.” Final Answer: settlers

Question 20

English Vocabulary — Choose the closest meaning (contextual synonym). Sentence: He has a propensity for getting into debt.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Financial behavior and personality profiles often use the noun “propensity” to indicate a likelihood or inclination toward a behavior. Your task is to select the option that captures this idea of inclination without adding extra implications such as skill or moral value. Given Data / Assumptions: Key noun: propensity (followed by “for + gerund”). Behavior: getting into debt. We want a near-synonym that preserves the sense of inclination. Concept / Approach: “Propensity” = “natural tendency” or “inclination.” It does not imply competence (“aptitude”) nor a neutral attribute label (“characteristic” or “quality”) without directional tendency. Thus, “natural tendency” is the closest paraphrase in standard usage across psychology, economics, and risk analysis. Step-by-Step Solution: Map “propensity” → inclination/tendency.Check collocation: propensity for + gerund/noun (e.g., propensity for risk-taking).Choose “natural tendency.”Reject terms implying skill or generic traits. Verification / Alternative check: Paraphrase: “He has a natural tendency to get into debt.” This keeps the original meaning precisely and reads idiomatically in financial counseling contexts. Why Other Options Are Wrong: aptitude: Suggests ability/skill, not inclination. characteristic: A trait label; lacks the directional sense of “tendency.” quality: Overly broad and vague; not equivalent. Common Pitfalls: Choosing “aptitude” because of frequent pairings with “for.” Remember: aptitude for math is skill; propensity for debt is inclination, not competence. Final Answer: natural tendency

Synonyms Questions