Question

Select the option that is opposite in meaning to the underlined word/words:
Why does fire attract insects?
a)discharge
b)destroy
c)repel
d)remove

Answer 1

Hint: The underlined word is ‘attract’. To attract something or someone means to draw someone or something towards it as a result of someone or something like that thing. Therefore, insects are attracted to fire because they like it and fire draws them to itself.

Complete step-by-step answer:

We have to find a word which means the opposite of ‘attract’, that is, which makes people move away as a result of dislike. One word for such a meaning is ‘repel’. If the smell of petrol repels Akshay, it means that Akshay dislikes the smell of petrol and would not go anywhere near it. Thus, option c is the correct answer.
Option a, ‘discharge’, means to release someone or something. For example, industries discharge polluted water into the rivers. It is not related to the meaning of ‘attract’ and is thus a wrong answer.
Option b, ‘destroy’, means to damage or ruin something. For example, I destroyed my phone by accidentally dropping it in the water. Thus, option b is wrong.
Option d, which is ‘remove’, means to move something from a place the thing was earlier in. For example, I removed my earrings from reaching home. Thus, option d is also incorrect.

Note: It is important to know the various meanings of words so that the correct meaning can be used while solving questions related to antonyms and synonyms. Sometimes a word may have several meanings. The correct meaning has to be used in the appropriate context.