Choose the word that is closest in meaning to the underlined phrasal verb:
It took the auditors nearly a month to ferret out the fake bills hidden among thousands of genuine ones in the hospital’s accounts.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → unearth
A phrasal verb is a verb joined with a small word such as up, out or together. The two words together have a new meaning.
Ferret out means to find something hidden by searching carefully for a long time. Its closest meaning is unearth. Example: The class teacher finally ferreted out who had hidden the attendance register.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) verify | to check that something is true or correct | The bank verified my address before opening the account. |
| (2) unearth (answer) | to find something that was hidden or not known (same as ferret out) | Workers digging the new metro line unearthed some old coins. |
| (3) discard | to throw away something you do not want | Please discard the old medicines in the kitchen drawer. |
| (4) forge | to make a false copy of something, like a signature or a document | The boy forged his father’s signature on the report card. |