Reading Comprehension for Synonyms Practice: Job Test Preparation

Introduction: Test your skills in identifying synonyms based on context. This exercise challenges you to select the most appropriate synonyms for words in the passage. Pay attention to the surrounding context, as it will guide your choice.

Reading Comprehension Synonym Exercise

Paragraph: The rapid pace of modern life has made it increasingly difficult for individuals to maintain a balanced lifestyle. People often find themselves juggling multiple responsibilities, and as a result, their health can suffer. Consequently, many individuals seek methods to improve their well-being. While some choose to focus on physical exercise, others prioritize mental health. Thus, a growing trend is the practice of mindfulness and meditation, which aims to enhance emotional stability and reduce stress. For some, this practice involves deep introspection, while others engage in group activities. Nevertheless, some critics argue that mindfulness practices may not be effective for everyone, claiming that intense self-reflection can sometimes lead to negative emotional states. However, for those who find it helpful, the benefits are clear: significant improvements in both mental and physical health have been reported.

Options:

Word 1: maintain
- Sustain
- Preserve
- Alter
- Change

Word 2: Consequently
- Nevertheless
- Hence
- Moreover
- Despite

Word 3: improve
- Augment
- Advance
- Deteriorate
- Lower

Word 4: mental
- Physical
- Emotional
- Cognitive
- Spiritual

Word 5: enhance
- Reduce
- Impair
- Elevate
- Diminish

Word 6: Nevertheless
- Thus
- Despite this
- Hence
- Although

Word 7: intense
- Mild
- Extreme
- Casual
- Gentle

Word 8: significant
- Trivial
- Substantial
- Unimportant
- Negligible

Answers and Explanations

1: Sustain - "Maintain" in this context refers to continuing or keeping up a balanced lifestyle, which is best matched by "sustain." "Alter" or "change" don't fit the context because they imply modification, which isn't the intended meaning here.

2: Hence - "Consequently" indicates a result or outcome of a previous statement, and "hence" is a suitable synonym, implying that something happens as a direct result of something else. "Nevertheless" implies contrast, which is not what the passage suggests.

3: Augment - "Improve" in this context refers to making something better or more effective. "Augment" means to increase or make better, which is the closest match. "Deteriorate" means to worsen, which contradicts the idea of improvement.

4: Emotional - "Mental" here refers to emotional and cognitive aspects of well-being, but it is most closely related to "emotional" in the context of reducing stress and anxiety. "Physical" and "spiritual" are not appropriate because they don't fit with the idea of well-being in this context.

5: Elevate - "Enhance" means to improve or make something better, and "elevate" fits this meaning. "Reduce" or "impair" suggest a negative impact, which contradicts the intent of enhancing well-being.

6: Despite this - "Nevertheless" introduces a contrasting idea, and "despite this" carries the same contrast in meaning. "Thus" or "hence" do not imply contrast and are not suitable in this context.

7: Extreme - "Intense" refers to a high level or degree, which is matched by "extreme." "Mild," "casual," or "gentle" suggest lower intensity, which is not the context the passage suggests when discussing emotional self-reflection.

8: Substantial - "Significant" in this context means something considerable or important, and "substantial" is the best match. "Trivial," "unimportant," and "negligible" all suggest a lack of importance, which contradicts the idea of "significant" improvements in well-being.

About the Author

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Educator and Scholar

Prof. Mason Carter

Educator, Author & Scholar of English Literature. A senior faculty member at Department of English Language & Literature, Shah Abdul Latif University, Ghotki Campus, Sindh, Pakistsn.

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