from the list of words lettered A to D, choose the one that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the…

Analyze the question: The sentence is: "False witness castigate rather than ____ the accused." The underlined word is castigate. We need a word that is opposite in meaning to castigate and that fits the gap logically.

Concept: Castigate means to criticize or punish severely, to rebuke harshly. Its antonym should mean to praise, absolve, or free from blame.

Step by step:

• A. expose: means to reveal or uncover. It is not the opposite of castigate.
• B. appease: means to pacify or placate. It is a distant opposite at best and does not fit well with "the accused" in a court setting.
• C. punish: this is a synonym of castigate, not an antonym.
• D. exonerate: means to clear someone of blame or declare them innocent. This is directly opposite to castigating (condemning or punishing), and it fits the courtroom context of "the accused."

Reading it in full: "False witnesses castigate rather than exonerate the accused." The sentence makes sense, because a false witness condemns the accused instead of clearing them.

Answer: D. exonerate

Tip: In antonym-with-gap questions, first define the underlined word, then eliminate synonyms (like punish here). Next, test the remaining options in the sentence. Link exonerate with "ex-" (out of) + "onus" (burden): it means to lift the burden of blame off someone.