Answer the following question below and choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase…

Analyze the question The sentence is: "Justice is difficult to enforce because people are unwilling to accept any loss of sovereignty." (The underlined word appears to be sovereignty.) You are asked to pick the word closest in meaning to it.

Explain the concept Sovereignty means supreme power or authority, especially the right of a state or person to govern itself without outside control. Its closest synonyms are self-rule, independence, and autonomy.

Solution: test each option

• A. autonomy: This means self-government and independence. It matches the meaning of sovereignty closely.
• B. position: This means a place or rank. It is too general and does not carry the idea of supreme authority.
• C. leadership: This means the act of leading. A sovereign state need not be the leader of anything, so this is not the same thing.
• D. kingdom: This is a territory ruled by a king. It is related to the word's history (sovereign means monarch), but it names a place, not the idea of independent authority.

Check in context "People are unwilling to accept any loss of autonomy" makes sense. People and nations resist giving up their independence or right to govern themselves, and that resistance makes it hard to enforce justice (for example, international law).

Answer: A (autonomy)

Tip For "nearest in meaning" questions, put each option into the sentence in place of the word and see which keeps the sense. Also be careful with words like kingdom. It looks related to sovereign, but it is a thing (a place), not a quality (independence or authority). Remember: sovereignty = supreme power = autonomy.