Which word means to bear or to hold; to support; to keep something alive; to provide for; to deal with?

• A. Tacit
• B. Survey
• C. Survive
• D. Sustain

Answer: (D)

The main idea tested here is finding a verb that covers maintaining, supporting, and continuing something over time, including providing for it and handling it.

Sustain is the best fit because it captures all those nuances: to sustain life is to keep it going; to sustain a project or organization is to provide the ongoing support it needs; to sustain a family is to provide for them; and to sustain a policy or argument is to uphold or deal with it over time. It also conveys the sense of bearing or holding up under pressure.

The other words don’t fit as well. Tacit means unspoken, which has nothing to do with maintaining or providing. Survey means to look over or assess, not to maintain or support. Survive means to continue living or existing, but it doesn’t inherently include the idea of providing for, maintaining, or dealing with something over time.