Nelson-Denny Practice Test

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Enhance your vocabulary and reading comprehension skills with the Nelson-Denny test. Study with comprehensive flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Ensure your success with detailed explanations and insights!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What does the term "desist" mean?

To continue with a task
To abstain or refrain from an action
To start something new
To ignore completely

The correct answer is: To abstain or refrain from an action

The term "desist" means to abstain or refrain from an action. It implies a deliberate choice to stop doing something that one may have been engaged in previously. In a broader context, "desist" often conveys the idea of halting an activity, especially when urged by others or in response to a request or command. In contrast, continuing with a task or starting something new would directly contradict the meaning of desisting, as it indicates ongoing action rather than cessation. Similarly, ignoring something completely does not encapsulate the active choice involved in refraining from a specific action, as ignoring implies a lack of attention or response rather than a conscious decision to stop. Therefore, understanding "desist" as a term highlighting a decision to abstain aligns perfectly with its definition and usage.