How to answer nearest in meaning questions easily

Today, our topic of discussion is going to center around tips and tricks on how to answer nearest in meaning questions easily. Thus, take your time and patiently follow us as we take you on this beautiful academic voyage.

Obviously, in every Use of English exams, there’s usually a particular section meant for testing the students vocabulary capability, particularly their knowledge of synonyms and antonyms.

Nearest in meaning questions are often asked by some recruiters too in testing, evaluating and analysing the applicants vocabulary knowledge.

The synonyms questions in most of the exams are usually specified words why the students or applicants are required to choose an option that is similar or nearest in meaning to the given word.

Thus, it’s incumbent on the candidate to figure out the correct answer. To master this aspect of Use of English question, the following tips on how to answer nearest in meaning questions are meant for you.

Tips on how to answer nearest in meaning questions in Jamb and Waec

Before delving into the available tips to answer synonyms questions in exams, below are few examples of nearest in meaning questions:

• Death is inevitable.

• We pray this honourable Court for the following orders.

• The landlord instructed him to man the gate.

The above highlighted words are used as verb and their synonyms, similar or nearest in meaning words are needed to replace them.

Where the word INEVITABLE was used, it can be best replaced with UNAVOIDABLE. Where PRAY was used, the nearest in meaning is PLEAD and where we used MAN, the word that is similar or synonymous to it is SECURE.

1. Get rid of least relevant word

While answering nearest in meaning question, one of the techniques to arrive at the correct answer is by eliminating the least related answers first.

All the available answer choice in the question should be analyzed thoroughly to determine their respective synonyms and the ones whose meaning are vague or uncertain in the context should be eliminated.

You can also do this by eliminating antonyms or opposite in meaning words first. Once you do this, it will help you narrow down the available options and as such finding the right answer in time.

2. Be conscious of tricky words

Synonyms questions may contain words that may seems to be similar to another word, thereby making you believe that both words has same or similar meaning.

Words such as ‘aggressive’ might appear to mean ‘stubborn’ or ‘obstinate’, and may lead you into the conclusion that they convey same or similar meaning.

Hence, questions consisting of tricky words are often appeared in nearest in meaning tests. You should, therefore, master as many tricky words as possible.

3. Use the difficult words to make sentences

If in the cause of answering nearest in meaning questions, you encounter words whose meaning are difficult to decipher, use such words, one after the other, to construct sentences.

Doing so may, in the long run, help you to understand their meanings or at least get something closer to them. This trick is far better than marking the answer or outright guessing.

4. Avoid answering instinctively

No matter how simple, easy or familiar a question may look, you should always read it — at least twice — before you answer it.

Reading questions over and over again can help you have a better understand of the sentence thereby availing you the opportunity to find out if there is any hidden meaning conveyed in the sentence.

5. Analyze the word root

Knowing the root of origin of a word may also help you determine the exact meaning of the word. For instance, the words ‘amenable’ may have similar meaning to the word ‘amicable’ when together i.e. friendliness and openness.

So long and analysing common root words may help find out the meaning of any strange or unfamiliar words that might come your way in the test.

In the same vein, root words can be used to determine and analyze the charge on a particular word. For instance, the root word ‘mal’ has a negative context, as in ‘malnutrition’.

Therefore, all words that might start with the prefix ‘mal’, whether it sounds familiar or unfamiliar shouldn’t always be negatively charged.

Read also: How to answer jamb questions easily

6. Practice regularly

The last tip on how to answer nearest in meaning questions easily is for you to practice them regularly. Inculcate the habit of reading texts, formulate sentences on your own and speak them out aloud.

Always get yourself prepared for nearest in meaning questions. Regular practice can help you eliminate the answering instinctive tendencies that are in you.