SAT English Practice Question

The study of the history of the English language, a subject that many people find challenging, requires an understanding of the relationships between words. Words with similar meanings are called synonyms, whereas words with opposite meanings are called antonyms. Some words, like the words "happy" and "sad," have very distinct meanings, while others, like the words "big" and "large," have very similar meanings. What is the most likely reason why the writer uses the word "whereas"?

1. A.provide the reader with a contrast between two ideas.
2. B.give an example of a common type of word relationship.
3. C.explain the origin of the English language.
4. D.describe the process of learning new vocabulary.