Question

Exacerbate : Mitigate ::

Choose the option with the correct pair of words to fill the blank.

• A. Aggravate : Alleviate
• B. Alleviate : Precipitate
• C. Aggravate : Precipitate
• D. Emancipate : Exonerate

Hint:

Think about whether the two given words are synonyms or antonyms of each other, then look for the option that keeps that same relationship.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Work out the relation between the given words.
Exacerbate means to make a problem worse. Mitigate means to make a problem less severe.
So the two words in the pair are opposites of each other, one word makes things worse and the other one eases them.

Step 2: Check option (A), Aggravate : Alleviate.
Aggravate means to make worse, the same sense as exacerbate.
Alleviate means to make less severe or ease pain, the same sense as mitigate.
So this pair carries the exact same worsen versus ease relationship as the given pair.

Step 3: Check option (B), Alleviate : Precipitate.
Alleviate does mean to ease something, but precipitate means to cause an event to happen suddenly or sooner than expected.
Precipitate is not the opposite of alleviate, so this pair does not carry the same relationship.

Step 4: Check option (C), Aggravate : Precipitate.
Aggravate fits the worsen role, but precipitate again means to trigger something suddenly, not to ease or lessen it.
The second word does not act as the opposite of the first word here, so the pair fails.

Step 5: Check option (D), Emancipate : Exonerate.
Emancipate means to set free from control or restriction, and exonerate means to clear someone of blame.
These two words are close to synonyms of each other, both about releasing someone, not opposites.

Final Answer:
Only option (A) gives a word pair, aggravate and alleviate, that are opposites of each other in the same way exacerbate and mitigate are.
\[ \boxed{\text{Aggravate : Alleviate}} \]