Which meaning of approximate means to come close to something?

• A. To be similar to something
• B. To come close to something
• C. To get near
• D. To complete

Answer: (B)

The meaning being tested is that approximate as a verb conveys approaching a target or value, meaning to come close to something without necessarily reaching it exactly. This sense fits best because to approximate a quantity or distance is to land near the real figure or position, highlighting nearness rather than exactness. For example, if a distance is about two miles, you could say the distance approximates to two miles, meaning it’s close to that amount. Likewise, an estimate that is near the actual cost is said to approximate the true figure. The other ideas—being similar to something, simply getting near in a general sense, or finishing something—do not capture that specific sense of nearing a target or value.