A “contract” is a formal agreement drawn up between two or more parties, so it is closest in meaning to "agreement."

Many of these options may be tempting, for a house is a building, a piece of property, etc. In fact, many people live in apartments just like they live in houses. However, the best word on the list is "abode," which means place where someone lives or even, more simply, house. Probably the most tempting wrong answer is "apartment," but since "abode" can mean "house," it is a better option among those provided.

It is always best to choose the word that is closest in meaning to the word used in the question itself. The word "trace" is most frequently used to describe the activity of drawing the outline of someone or something while the person or thing is actually present. It also can be used in the figurative sense of "outlining" some activity. (You can say, "I will trace what he said in the discussion." This would mean that you would outline it—that is, present it in a brief form.) Although tracing could be a type of "portraying" or "rendering," it is best said to be "outlining." This is the correct answer.

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.