Which word does not belong with the others?
Answer(s): B
Note that all of these words pertain to praise in some manner but likewise note that they do not indicate the same “amount” or “intensity of praise.” All of the incorrect options are expressions of great, enthusiastic praise. To “laud” is to praise enthusiastically, often publically. “Acclaim” is related to words like “clamorous” and “proclaim,” both of which come from the Latin for “to shout.” An “acclamation” is loudly spoken praise. To “adulate” is to praise someone so greatly that it might even seem fawning or like a servant to a master. Finally, “extol” likewise means “to praise with enthusiasm.” In comparison with all of these, “praise” is a rather weak work.
All of these options can pertain to disapproval of something or at least some aspect of something. While the four incorrect answers all have different aspects of critiquing, the general sense is this somewhat general notion of having some negative judgment regarding the thing being disapproved, objected to, criticized and so forth. Note however that “condemn” implies an unqualified, strong critique, thus surpassing the general notion shared by the other options. It thus is the word that least fits among the options provided.
Answer(s): E
Note that all of the incorrect answers share in the fact that they describe the action of coming to a halt or stopping some process. In contrast to these, “decelerate” merely means “to slow down.” The word is the opposite of “accelerate,” which means “to increase one’s speed.” Note that both words share the base “-celer-.” This base comes from the Latin word for “fast or quick.” “Celerity” is a word meaning “swiftness.” The word “accelerate” means “to go toward swiftness” (the “ac-” is a form of the “ad-” found in “advance”). Likewise, “decelerate” means “to go away from swiftness” (the “de-” prefix means “down from” or at times “away from”).
Answer(s): D
Even if you do not know all of the wrong answers’ meanings, first notice that the word “espouse” likely reminds you of the word “spouse,” meaning “husband or wife.” The word “espouse” means “to support or adopt a given position or belief.” To “espouse” an idea is somewhat (metaphorically) like getting married to it. You certainly know “deny” is different from that. To “recant” something is to say that you no longer believe it. The word literally means “to sing in a different way.” We might say, “Now that you recant your position, you are singing a different tune, aren’t you?” To disavow something is to deny that you have responsibility for that thing or that you support it. To repudiate a position is to deny it, often desiring to be free of any association with it whatsoever.
All of the related, incorrect options pertain to something that “gets in the way.” The word “impede” means “to delay or hinder with some obstacle.” The word comes from the Latin word for foot (found in “pedal” and “pedestrian”). Based on this root, “impede” literally means “on the foot” – as though you were to place a stone on someone’s foot, thus “impeding” his or her motion. To “hamper” the progress of something is to impede it. An “obstruction” is something that is placed in the way of something else. “Prevent” obviously is related to these other words. In contrast, “to assist” is to help, which is quite the opposite of all the other impediments and obstructions!
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