Question

Find the synonym of the underlined word:
Whenever she reads a good mystery, it whets her appetite for more books by any author.
a)waits
b)cajoles
c)sharpens
d)resolves
e)idles

Answer 1

Hint: Whets means to stimulate a desire. Since we have to find a synonym, we have to find a similar meaning.

Complete answer:

From the sentence, we can understand that the girl wants to read more books whenever she reads a good mystery book. Thus, we have to find a meaning which means “makes her want to do something more”. According to this meaning, the correct word from the options would be option c, sharpens. To sharpen something in the given context would mean to add to the intensity of a feeling. To sharpen a knife means to make it more sharp so that it can cut easily. Similarly, sharpening anything increases the degree of anything.
Option a is waits. To wait mean to expect something. I waited for my parcel to arrive. This word does not make any sense in relation to the given sentence.
Option b is cajoles. To cajole someone means to persuade someone by praising that person. This word has no relation to the given word either.
Option d is resolves. To resolve means either to solve something or to decide something. He resolved the problem (solved). He resolved to come first in class (decided). This word is not a synonym either.
Option e is idles. To idle means to not do anything. She was sitting idle since she did not have any homework. This is the wrong answer as well.
Thus, the correct answer is option c, sharpens.

Note: Do not consider an option to be the correct answer because it sounds similar. Whets and waits are not synonyms.