Directions: Each item in this section consists of a sentence with an underlined word followed by four options, (a), (b), (c) and (d). Select the option that is opposite in meaning to the underlined word and mark your response in your Answer Sheet accordingly. The parental support can fortify a child's learning.
weaken
Understanding the Word Fortify and Its Antonym
The question asks us to find the word that is opposite in meaning to the underlined word 'fortify' in the sentence: "The parental support can fortify a child's learning."
Let's first understand the meaning of the word 'fortify'.
- Fortify: To strengthen (a place) with defensive works so as to protect it against attack. It can also mean to strengthen or invigorate (someone) mentally or physically, or to make something stronger or more effective.
In the given sentence, "The parental support can fortify a child's learning," the word 'fortify' is used in the sense of making the child's learning stronger, more robust, or more effective. Parental support acts as something that strengthens the learning process.
We are looking for the antonym of 'fortify', which means the word with the opposite meaning.
Analyzing the Options
Let's examine each option provided:
- (a) weaken: To make or become weak; reduce the strength of something.
- (b) encourage: To give support, confidence, or hope to someone. While encouragement can indirectly fortify one's resolve or spirit, it is not a direct opposite of physical or functional strengthening.
- (c) brace: To prepare oneself for something difficult; to make (a structure) stronger or more rigid with support. This word is similar in meaning to fortify.
- (d) strengthen: To make or become stronger. This is a synonym of fortify.
Identifying the Opposite of Fortify
Comparing the meanings, we see that 'fortify' means to make stronger, while 'weaken' means to make less strong. These two words are direct opposites. 'Encourage' and 'brace' are related to support or strengthening in different contexts, and 'strengthen' is a synonym.
Therefore, the word opposite in meaning to 'fortify' is 'weaken'.
Conclusion
Based on the analysis of the word 'fortify' and the given options, the word that is opposite in meaning to 'fortify' is 'weaken'. Parental support can fortify learning by making it stronger, while the absence of support, or negative influences, could potentially weaken learning.
| Word | Meaning (relevant context) | Relationship to 'Fortify' |
|---|---|---|
| Fortify | To make stronger or more effective | The base word |
| Weaken | To make less strong | Antonym |
| Encourage | To give support/confidence | Related (can lead to fortification) |
| Brace | To make stronger/rigid | Synonym/Similar |
| Strengthen | To make stronger | Synonym |
Revision Table: Antonyms and Synonyms
| Word | Antonyms | Synonyms |
|---|---|---|
| Fortify | Weaken, undermine, sabotage, impair | Strengthen, reinforce, support, brace, bolster |
Additional Information: Building Vocabulary and Understanding Context
Understanding synonyms and antonyms is a crucial part of building strong vocabulary for exams. When you encounter a new word like 'fortify', try to:
- Look up its definition in a dictionary.
- See how it is used in different sentences.
- Identify its synonyms (words with similar meaning).
- Identify its antonyms (words with opposite meaning).
- Pay attention to the context in which the word is used, as meaning can sometimes vary slightly depending on the situation. For example, fortify can apply to physical structures, health, or even abstract concepts like learning.
Practicing with questions like this helps improve your ability to quickly identify relationships between words.
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