Synonyms Questions and Answers

Answer: B

It is to begin.

To commence is to start, from the Old French. To end and nearing finish are its opposites.

Answer: B

It is to hate intensely.

To detest is to dislike intensely, from the Latin for calling the gods to witness against. Love and support are its opposites.

Answer: D

It is discount.

A rebate is a partial refund or reduction in price. Interest and commission are payments made rather than returned.

Answer: C

It is to handle or manage.

To manipulate is to handle skilfully, from the Latin manus, hand, and by extension to control someone unfairly. Display and mortgage are unrelated.

Answer: A

It is similarity.

An analogy is a comparison based on a likeness between two things. Distinction is its opposite - marking the difference rather than the resemblance.

Answer: D

It is monologue.

A soliloquy is a speech made by a character alone on stage, thinking aloud, from the Latin for speaking alone. Hamlet's is the best known.

Answer: B

It is theoretical.

Hypothetical means assumed for the sake of argument rather than known to be so. Magical and two-faced are unrelated.

Answer: B

The synonym of 'fragile' that fits is 'delicate'. Fragile means easily broken or damaged, and delicate carries the same sense, so an emotionally delicate state is a state of being easily hurt after her husband's death. 'Healthy' means the opposite in this setting, and 'rigid' and 'firm' mean stiff or steady, so they are opposites of fragile, not synonyms.

Answer: A

The synonym of 'gullible' is 'naive'. A gullible person is easily deceived or too ready to believe, and a naive person is trusting and inexperienced, so shopkeepers can sell overpriced souvenirs to naive tourists. 'Perceptive' and 'knowledgeable' describe people who notice things or know much, so they are opposites of gullible, and 'sensitive' means easily affected by feelings, not easily deceived.

Answer: D

The synonym of 'fractious' is 'irritable'. Fractious describes a person who is easily annoyed or cross, especially a child that complains and is hard to manage, and a tired child such as Kavya becomes irritable. 'Happy', 'patient' and 'excited' describe calm or cheerful states, so they are opposite to or unrelated to fractious.