choose the option nearly opposite in meaning to the word(s) underlined The incumbent president conceded defeat before the final result was announced.

Analyzing the question

The question asks for the word nearly opposite in meaning to the underlined word. The underlined word is not marked in the text you sent, but from the sentence it is almost certainly "conceded" (as in "conceded defeat").

Explaining the concept

To concede means to admit or accept that something is true or that you have lost. For example, a losing candidate "concedes defeat" when he accepts that he has lost the election.

• Synonyms: admit, accept, acknowledge, yield
• Antonyms: deny, reject, dispute, contest

Working through the options

• A. accepted: a synonym of "conceded", so it is not the opposite.
• B. rejected: to refuse to accept. This is opposite to accepting or admitting defeat, so it fits.
• C. opposed: means to be against something. It does not directly describe refusing to admit a result.
• D. challenged: means to dispute something. It is close, but "rejected" is the more direct opposite of "conceded".

Option D is the closest competitor, because a candidate who challenges a result is contesting it. But "conceded" is about accepting the outcome, and the direct opposite of accepting is rejecting.

Answer: B. rejected

Exam tip

In "opposite meaning" questions, first find the synonym of the underlined word. Here, conceded = accepted (option A), which is a trap. Once you have spotted the synonym, eliminate it and look for the word that means the reverse.