Question

Difficulty: MediumSynonyms and Words Nearest in Meaning

In English lexis and vocabulary, identifying precise contextual synonyms is key to clear communication. Which word nearest in meaning to 'alleviate' correctly completes the sentence below?

Answer:The humanitarian organization distributed emergency food and medical supplies to help 【mitigate】 the severe hardship caused by the drought.

Answer

The word 'mitigate' (or 'lessen', 'relieve', 'ease') correctly completes the sentence as a direct synonym of 'alleviate' in this context.
The verb 'alleviate' means to make a burden, pain, or difficulty less severe. In the sentence, providing supplies to people experiencing drought aims to reduce or lessen their suffering, making 'mitigate' (or 'lessen' / 'relieve') the nearest in meaning.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the target word and contextual meaning
The target word 'alleviate' means to make suffering, pain, or a problem less severe or more bearable.
Understanding the core definition in the context of humanitarian intervention is essential.
2
Identify words nearest in meaning that fit the sentence structure
Verbs such as 'mitigate', 'lessen', 'relieve', or 'ease' express reducing the severity of hardship.
The sentence requires a verb that means reducing or softening the impact of drought-induced hardship.

Key Concept

Contextual Synonyms and Lexical Selection
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