Question

Which of the following words is most nearly opposite in meaning as the words NURTURING as used in the passage?

• A. demolishing
• B. weakening
• C. fostering
• D. poisoning

Hint:

Think of "nurturing" as building up/cultivating, and "demolishing" as tearing down/destroying. They represent direct structural opposites.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Antonym questions require finding the word that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the target word within the given context.
"Nurturing" means to care for, protect, support, encourage, or foster the development of something over time.
Detailed Explanation:
In the passage, the word is used as follows:
"...through the nurturing of a historiography that just denied the existence of any overarching national consciousness."
In this context, "nurturing" refers to actively cultivating, building, and developing a specific historical narrative (historiography).
Let us analyze the options to find the opposite of this constructive process:
- Fostering: This is a synonym, meaning to promote or encourage development.
- Poisoning: Means to corrupt or harm, which is a negative action but not the direct structural opposite of building/cultivating.
- Weakening: Means to make something less strong, which is a gradual reduction in strength but not complete destruction.
- Demolishing: Means to pull down, tear down, or completely destroy a structure or concept.
Since "nurturing" represents the active building, cultivation, and support of a structure or narrative, "demolishing" (the complete destruction or tearing down of that structure) is its most direct and powerful antonym.

Step 2: Final Answer:
The opposite of nurturing in this context is demolishing, corresponding to Option (A).