Question

contemplate has the same or almost the same meaning as:
merit
ponder
depict
atone

Explanation:

"Contemplate" means to think deeply about something. "Ponder" also means to think carefully and deeply. "Merit" refers to worth or excellence, "depict" means to represent or show something, and "atone" means to make amends for a wrong - doing. So "ponder" is the closest in meaning to "contemplate".

Answer:

B. ponder