Nurture, Cultivate
A plant won’t grow well if you simply throw water on it and hope the sun shines.
You have to take care of the soil. You have to keep a proactive eye out for pests. You have to know the right time of day to water it. If you want to really help, you might even consider the circumstances of the soil and time of year when you’re planting it.
If survive is a good verb for the viva, maybe nurture is a good verb for viva prep – or cultivate.
You can’t just cram your thesis into your brain the day before your viva. It makes a difference when you read, when you make notes, what questions you reflect on, what the situation is like around you.
So what can you do to make the most of your preparations? How can you cultivate a good set of circumstances?