Explanation
In this vocabulary item, Compress is the closest synonym of Condense, so option C is correct. The word Condense and the word Compress share the same central sense in the context tested by the question, although usage, tone and grammatical form should still be checked before substituting one for the other. A synonym is not required to be identical in every possible sentence; it must preserve the intended meaning in the relevant context. Here, replacing Condense with Compress keeps the core idea intact without reversing the tone or changing the action, quality or state expressed by the target word. The alternatives Stern, Climb and Terrible do not express the same central meaning as Condense. This distinction matters because competitive examinations often place one accurate synonym beside three familiar but contextually unsuitable words. To verify Condense independently, identify its part of speech, state a short definition, and place both Condense and Compress in the same simple sentence. If the sentence retains its essential meaning and grammatical structure, the synonym relationship is supported. Learners should revise Condense together with Compress, a brief usage cue and the contrasting distractors.