Notice that all of the incorrect options describe a state of affairs in which someone or something is hated to a great degree. Indeed, most of the words are synonyms. The one exception is “despise” which means “to feel contempt for someone or something.” This is because the word comes from literal roots meaning “to look down on.” Still, all of these words indicate a state of affairs in which something is disliked to a great degree. In contrast with this, the very weak word “dislike” stands out as not fitting into the group.

Each of the related words indicate an action of approving some idea or thing. To acknowledge something is to admit that it is true. To uphold an idea is to support it or maintain it (perhaps in spite of opposition). To endorse is to declare publicly that you believe something. In contrast to these words, “assert” adds the additional notion of strongly stating something that is approved or acknowledged, often with the implication that such asserting is being done in order to convince the other person.

Each of the related words describe some small type of small eating or drinking action, not taking a large quantity in any bite or drink. In contrast to these, “gulp” is a much larger type of eating / drinking, hence not fitting with the overall group.

Each of the related words here are examples of very soft sounds. In comparison with them, the word “blare” describes a loud and often harsh sound—like the blaring of a siren. Since all the others are soft sounds, this one loud sound does not fit with the whole group of sounds.

Note that all of these words pertain to praise in some manner but likewise note that they do not indicate the same “amount” or “intensity of praise.” All of the incorrect options are expressions of great, enthusiastic praise. To “laud” is to praise enthusiastically, often publically. “Acclaim” is related to words like “clamorous” and “proclaim,” both of which come from the Latin for “to shout.” An “acclamation” is loudly spoken praise. To “adulate” is to praise someone so greatly that it might even seem fawning or like a servant to a master. Finally, “extol” likewise means “to praise with enthusiasm.” In comparison with all of these, “praise” is a rather weak work.

All of these options can pertain to disapproval of something or at least some aspect of something. While the four incorrect answers all have different aspects of critiquing, the general sense is this somewhat general notion of having some negative judgment regarding the thing being disapproved, objected to, criticized and so forth. Note however that “condemn” implies an unqualified, strong critique, thus surpassing the general notion shared by the other options. It thus is the word that least fits among the options provided.

Note that all of the incorrect answers share in the fact that they describe the action of coming to a halt or stopping some process. In contrast to these, “decelerate” merely means “to slow down.” The word is the opposite of “accelerate,” which means “to increase one’s speed.” Note that both words share the base “-celer-.” This base comes from the Latin word for “fast or quick.” “Celerity” is a word meaning “swiftness.” The word “accelerate” means “to go toward swiftness” (the “ac-” is a form of the “ad-” found in “advance”). Likewise, “decelerate” means “to go away from swiftness” (the “de-” prefix means “down from” or at times “away from”).

Even if you do not know all of the wrong answers’ meanings, first notice that the word “espouse” likely reminds you of the word “spouse,” meaning “husband or wife.” The word “espouse” means “to support or adopt a given position or belief.” To “espouse” an idea is somewhat (metaphorically) like getting married to it. You certainly know “deny” is different from that. To “recant” something is to say that you no longer believe it. The word literally means “to sing in a different way.” We might say, “Now that you recant your position, you are singing a different tune, aren’t you?”  To disavow something is to deny that you have responsibility for that thing or that you support it. To repudiate a position is to deny it, often desiring to be free of any association with it whatsoever. 

All of the related, incorrect options pertain to something that “gets in the way.” The word “impede” means “to delay or hinder with some obstacle.” The word comes from the Latin word for foot (found in “pedal” and “pedestrian”). Based on this root, “impede” literally means “on the foot”—as though you were to place a stone on someone’s foot, thus “impeding” his or her motion. To “hamper” the progress of something is to impede it. An “obstruction” is something that is placed in the way of something else. “Prevent” obviously is related to these other words. In contrast, “to assist” is to help, which is quite the opposite of all the other impediments and obstructions!

These words are all very closely related, even the one differing word. Note, however that the wrong answers all necessarily indicate singing. Chanting is not merely something that happens at a football game. It comes originally from the Latin for “to sing,” and it is found in words like “cantata” as well as “incant,” which itself basically means “to chant.” An “incantation”—so often associated with magic for most people—is originally derived from this kind of chanting by which the supposedly magical words would be sung. “Cantillate” is clearly related to these as well, basically meaning “to chant” or “to intone,” implying that such singing is perhaps done in a religious context. To “recite” something merely means to repeat it, generally from memory. Sometimes, a “recitation” could be sung or chanted, but we would likely have to add a description to make clear that it was being sung, for the word “recite” does not necessarily indicate such chanting.