Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

Which word most closely matches the meaning of 'Congeal'?

1. Freeze

2. Harden

3. Thicken

4. Cool

The correct answer is: Harden

The word "congeal" primarily refers to the process of becoming thick or solid, which can occur when a liquid cools and then sets into a firmer state. While "harden" captures a component of this transformation, it doesn’t encompass the full implication of changing from a liquid to a thicker or solid form. When a substance congeals, it typically progresses from a less viscous state to one that is more solidified, such as how fat or gelatin behaves when allowed to cool. Although "freeze," "thicken," and "cool" each touch on aspects of the congealing process, they do not match the definition as closely. For example, "freeze" specifically refers to the lowering of temperature to below the freezing point, which may not always result in congealing, especially in mixtures or liquids that might only thicken or harden without reaching freezing temperatures. "Thicken" gets closer to the process, but it lacks the specific imagery of a substance changing from a liquid to a more solid state that is inherent in "congeal." "Cool" addresses temperature but does not imply the change of state resulting from that temperature drop. In this context, "harden" is a word