When multiple people "consent" to something, they literally "feel" or "sense" that thing together. Therefore, the expression "consent to" often means agree to something being generally proposed. Often, the word can be used to describe the agreement itself, as in "The consent of the group established the law." This means, "The agreement of the group established the law." Therefore, the best option is "agreement." Although "diplomacy" works for consent and while some consents are registered by signatures, these are far too specific examples for our synonym question.

When we rebuke someone, we criticize that person, often very strongly. For instance, when a child lies to his or her parents, they might rebuke him or her for the action. This rebuking could also be called "scolding," which is a type of very strong correction. We could say, "He scolded the child for his actions," just as much as we could say, "He rebuked the child for his actions."

The word "discharge" has a number of meanings, but its central and most important ones have to do with making someone leave an area, job, or task. For instance, when a patient has completed treatment in a hospital, that person is "discharged." Likewise, we can even even talk about "discharging" fluid from our lungs when we cough. We make the fluid "come up out" of them. (Yes, it is gross, but maybe it will help you remember it!) 

Among the options given, do not be tricked by "leave." Certainly, someone who is discharged from a place has to leave that place. However, the meaning of "to discharge" is "to make something or someone leave." The best option is "eject," for one way of discharging something is by ejecting it out.

The word "garb" is among a group of words that we can use for clothing, such as "raiment" and "garment." Generally speaking, the word "garb" is used to describe special clothing, often clothing that is elegant or beautiful. It does not describe any particular kind of clothing but the general class of such clothes. It can, however, be used merely to mean "clothing," so that is the best answer among those provided.

"Assent" means approve or agree. If a sibling assents to doing chores, it means he or she agrees to do chores. "Agree" is thus the answer choice closest in meaning to "assent," and the correct answer.

"Mentor," when used as a noun, means advisor, so we need to pick out an answer choice that refers to a person and means something like advisor. Of the possible answer choices, only three refer to people: "guide," "coworker," and "rival." Since one meaning of "guide" is advisor, "guide" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "mentor" and the correct answer.

"Tread" is a word that when used as a verb means walk in a particular manner and when used as a noun means the way in which a person walks or the sound he or she makes by walking in that way. We thus need to pick out an answer choice that is either a verb or a noun and means something like walk or manner of walking. While "treat" and "tread" may look somewhat alike, they have completely different meanings, so "treat" cannot be the correct answer. "Step," however, when used as a verb means move one's foot forward as part of the action of walking, so "step" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "tread" and the correct answer.

When used as a verb, "desert" means to leave or abandon a group one has previously committed oneself to, such as an army. So, "leave" is the correct answer.

The word "shield" is often used as a noun to describe the object used to protect a soldier from darts, arrows, swords, and so forth. However, remember that the word can also be used as a verb to describe the act of protecting. I can "shield" my little sister with my hand to protect her from something. Therefore, although the word "to shield" might seem to mean "battle" or even "parry" because it is involved in battling and in protective actions like parrying, it is best described by the word "protect."

The correct answer is "absence." Both "lack" and "absence" mean the status of something not being present or available, especially when it is needed. "Abundance" is an opposite, or antonym, of "lack."