Directions: Given below are two passages. Read them carefully and answer the…
2025
Directions: Given below are two passages. Read them carefully and answer the questions given below them. Certain words are given in bold to help you to locate them while answering some of the questions.
Population is one resource that never depletes and is a living development parameter. But it is at times interpreted as a hindering factor for development. This happens because population is both a consumer and producer. There are two schools of thought. One which treats population as a resource, and the other as a burden to the society. The truth, in fact, lies somewhere in between. The interplay of factors responsible for population growth and those for development decide the resourcefulness of population.
What will be the synonym of the word ‘depletes’ as given in bold in the passage?
- A.
disappears
- B.
sustains
- C.
worsens
- D.
evades
Attempted by 4 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Concept
A 'synonym in context' question asks you to pick the option whose meaning is closest to the target word as it is used in the sentence. The verb 'deplete' means to reduce a resource or use it up until little or none is left — its core sense is a gradual emptying, a dwindling toward nothing.
Applying it here
In the passage, 'a resource that never depletes' describes something that never gets used up and never runs out — i.e., never dwindles away to nothing. The choice that carries this reduce-to-nothing sense is 'disappears' (to fade away / cease to be present). So 'never depletes' means about the same as 'never disappears'.
Why the others do not fit
'sustains' means to keep something going or maintain it — the opposite of using a resource up, so it is an antonym, not a synonym (it merely fits the sentence's overall meaning, which is the trap).
'worsens' means to deteriorate in quality; 'deplete' is about a quantity running out, not quality declining — a category mismatch.
'evades' means to dodge or avoid; it has no link to a resource being reduced or consumed.
Among the four choices, only 'disappears' moves in the same direction as 'deplete' (reduction toward nothing), so it is the best-fit synonym.