Question

Find the synonym of the underlined word.
Scientists have found surprising evidence of response in plants to physical abuse.

a. Reaction
b. Warning signal
c. Disposition
d. Trigger mechanism
e. Movement

Answer 1

Hint: A synonym refers to a word that is similar in meaning to another word. Generally, words in the English language have many synonyms bearing similar meanings.

Complete answer:

A response is an answer or a reply that is induced by a question, a stimulus, or by an event. The nature of responses can vary in nature and scope. They can be mild or intense as well as written or verbal. The response is derived from the Old Latin word ‘responsum’.

Let’s look at its usage:
Example- Jack texted his friend but he did not get any response. Here, we can see that Jack did not get any reply to his text.

Let’s examine the given options:
a. Reaction- It refers to an action that is taken in response to something. It is similar in meaning to the response. Hence, it is the correct option.
b.Warning Signal- It refers to a signal that signifies impending danger. It is different in meaning to the response. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
c. Disposition- It refers to a person’s inherent qualities of mind and character. It is different in meaning to the response. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
d. Trigger Mechanism- It refers to a mechanism that can set into motion a series of events. It is different in meaning to the response. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
e. Movement- It refers to the act of going about from one place to another. It is different in meaning to the response. Hence, it is an incorrect option.

So, the correct answer is “Option a”.

Note: A reaction is a typical response. This means that it occurs irrespective of the stimulus type. However, trigger mechanisms are offset by intense stress or duress i.e. negative stimuli.