Which verb means to examine with great care?

• A. Peruse
• B. Glance
• C. Inspect
• D. Scrutinize

Answer: (D)

This item tests your ability to pick a verb that conveys thorough, careful examination. Scrutinize means to examine with great care, paying close attention to every detail, often to uncover flaws or verify accuracy. It implies a deliberate, meticulous look at something.

Compared with the others, scrutinize carries that stronger sense of depth. Peruse can mean read carefully, but it’s ambiguous in some contexts and can imply either thorough reading or, conversely, skim; glance is a quick, cursory look; inspect is a thorough look as well, but it doesn’t always imply the same level of exhaustive attention. So, when the idea is “examine with great care,” the precise choice is scrutinize. For example: The investigator scrutinized the contract, checking each clause for hidden issues.