Question

find the synonym of the underlined word.
The death toll is believed to mount to 60 after the earthquake.

a) Fly
b) Dismantle
c) Support
d) Increase
e) Descend

Answer 1

Hint: The word “mount” basically means to “climb up”. Now, “climb up” can have different meanings in different contexts. It can refer to a rise in something, or to climb up a mountain or something.

Complete answer:

Option a “fly” means to move through the air as a bird does with its wings, or an aircraft does. This is not the meaning of the underlined phrase. Thus, option ‘a’ is incorrect.
Option b “dismantle” means to disconnect the pieces. This is not the meaning of the underlined phrase. Thus, option ‘b’ is incorrect.
Option c “support” means to give assistance or bear the support of something. This is not the meaning of the underlined word. Thus, the option ‘c’ is incorrect.
Option d “increase” means to go up or become greater in number, intensity, size or quantity. This is the same as “mount”. In the given sentence the word mount refers to an increase in number. Thus, option ‘d’ is correct.
Option e “descend” means to decrease to become less in quantity, size, amount, intensity, etc. This is the opposite of the underlined phrase. Thus option ‘e’ is incorrect.

Note: The word mount means to climb up something, maybe a surface or a mountain but in the given sentence it means to increase in number.