To “gaze” at someone or something means to look at them for a long time, so it is closest in meaning to “stare.”

To "instruct" means pass on information or a skill. This is very close in meaning to the verb "teach." Thus, "teach" is the best synonym. The other words are unrelated to the act of instruction.

"Persuade" means to make someone believe a particular opinion or way of thinking. "Convince" means to get a person to take on certain thoughts or ideas as their own. Given how similar these words are in meaning, they are synonyms, and "convince" is the correct answer.

To "advertise" means to spread the word about something, often a product people can buy. Similarly, to "publicize" means to put something in the public eye. Putting something in the public eye will certainly spread the word about it. Therefore, "advertise" and "publicize" are synonyms.

When people or groups "cooperate," they work together to achieve a common goal. Since "unite" means come together, this verb is the most relevant choice. When we take a look at the other three answers, we can see that both "disagree" and "compete" refer to actions that do not involve working together in harmony. Finally, to "startle" another individual is to surprise him or her, so that term has nothing to do with our original word.

To "describe" means to portray what something is. The word that best matches this is "explain," which means to discuss something in detail so one's listeners better understand that thing. Therefore, it is the correct answer. The other words are unrelated to this.

To “indicate” means to show something or to explain to someone how something should be done or understood. The word “mock” means to make fun of, and the word “reckon” means to think or to think something is true.

The word “deceive” means to lie to someone or to try and trick somebody, so "trick" is the correct answer. The word “assist” means to help someone, and “trade” means  to give someone one thing and get a different thing back from that person.

The word “commend” means to say someone did something well, or in other words, to "praise." It is the opposite of “condemn,” which means to say someone is wrong or did something wrong. “Summon” means send for or call for, and "order" means direct someone to do something as if they have no other choice. You may have chosen "order" if you read "commend" as "command," so be careful when reading the word in all capital letters.

"Oblige" is a verb that means either "make (someone) legally or morally bound to an action or course of action" or "do as (someone) asks or desires in order to help or please them." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "make someone legally or morally bound to an action" or "do as someone wants." "Oppose," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "oppose" means "actively resist or refuse to comply with (a person or a system)," making "oppose" an antonym of "oblige," not a synonym. "Compel," however, is a verb that means "force or oblige (someone) to do something," and because "compel" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "oblige," "compel" is the correct answer.