Question

Find the synonym of the underlined word.
Arthur’s family have lived for years in a village near one of the many creeks flowing into the part of the Mississippi River.
a. Streams
b. Ponds
c. Lakes
d. Swamps
e. Pools

Answer 1

Hint: A creek is a narrow river which flows into a larger water body. The important part in this definition and which will help in choosing the correct synonym is that the water flows.

Complete answer:
Let us utilise the hint to get to our answer. Since the water in a creek flows, we need to select the option which is synonymous to flowing water.

Thus, the correct option is option a, that is, streams. The water in streams flows.

Ponds in option b are stagnant. They are small water bodies. Ponds are usually found in villages. It does not flow into a river. Thus, it is the wrong answer.
Option c is wrong because like ponds, lakes are also stagnant areas of water. They are bigger than ponds. There are some famous lakes such as Dal Lake, Chilika Lake, etc. which are popular tourist spots.
Option d is swamps. Swamps are marshy areas of land which are muddy and full of trees, weeds, plants, bogs, etc. The land in swamps is soft and wet. This option is wrong as well.
Option e is pools. Pools are usually used for sportive purposes. For example, a swimming pool. They have fresh, clean water that is maintained for the community to use. They definitely do not flow into other water bodies. Therefore, this answer is also wrong.

Note: An effective way of selecting the right synonym from the options is by eliminating other options. As has been elaborated, once you know that water in creeks moves, you can eliminate the options in which the water does not move or flow.