Question

Choose the word / phrase which is opposite in meaning to the italicized word / phrase in the sentence.
He was asked to accelerate the pace of work.
A) Check
B) Control
C) Slacken
D) Supervise

Answer 1

Hint: Idiomatic expressions are a type of informal language that have a meaning different from the meaning of the words in the expression. For example: Pull yourself together (meaning – calm down), It’s a piece of cake (meaning – it’s easy).

Complete step by step answer:
The meaning of the word accelerate is ‘begin to move more quickly’ or ‘speed up’. So, as per the question we have to find the word which is opposite in meaning to the word accelerate.
Option A) Check – is an incorrect answer because the meaning of check is ‘to examine’ or ‘to inspect’ and this is not opposite of the word accelerate. However, this is an incorrect answer.
Option B) Control – is an incorrect answer because the meaning of control is ‘the power to influence or to direct people’s behaviour’ and this is not the opposite of the word accelerate. Thus, this is an incorrect answer.
Option C) Slacken – is the correct answer because the meaning of slacken is ‘to cause or become loose’ and this is the opposite in meaning of the word accelerate. Thus, this is the correct answer.
Option D) Supervise – is an incorrect answer because the meaning of supervise is ‘to observe and direct the execution of any task or activity’ and this is not opposite of accelerate. Thus, this is an incorrect answer.

So, the correct answer is “Option C”.

Note:
Antonyms are the words that are opposite in meaning and synonyms are the words that have the same meaning. As the meaning of accelerate is increase in rate, amount and the opposite is slacken (reduce or decrease in speed). The remaining words that are given in the options are not opposite to the word accelerate. The synonym of accelerate is quicken, speed, increase, fast.