Which verb means 'to form or make something; to form part of the whole; to add up to'?

• A. To account for
• B. To constitute
• C. To describe
• D. To comprise

Answer: (B)

This item is about choosing a verb that means forming or making up a whole, and also implying a total. The best fit is to constitute because it directly means to form the parts that make up a whole and can also mean to amount to. For example, “Twelve months constitute a year” shows how the parts form the whole, and “These expenses constitute half the budget” shows adding up to a total.

The other options don’t fit as cleanly. To account for can mean to explain something or to form a part of a total in some contexts, but it’s not primarily used to express the act of forming the whole itself. To describe is about detailing features, not about making up or totaling. To comprise is close in meaning (the whole is made up of parts), but usage patterns prefer constitute when stressing the act of forming or totaling.