English Vocabulary — Choose the closest meaning (contextual synonym). Sentence: The accident occurred due to his lapse.

Introduction / Context:
In safety, medicine, aviation, and quality control, the noun “lapse” commonly denotes a slip, failure, or error, especially a brief one such as a lapse in concentration or a lapse in judgment. The task is to pick the nearest meaning in this cause-and-effect sentence about an accident.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Key noun: lapse (after “due to”).
• Event: an accident occurred.
• We must select the synonym that logically explains an accident.

Concept / Approach:
“Lapse” often collocates with “error,” as in “human error” or “lapse of attention.” “Interval” means a period of time; “trick” implies deception; “ignorance” is lack of knowledge, which could cause errors but is not the direct synonym of “lapse” in standard incident reports. The most accurate, general synonym here is “error.”

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Other common collocations: “lapse in concentration,” “lapse of memory,” “lapse in judgment,” each points to some kind of error or failure, reinforcing that “error” is the best fit here.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• trick: Implies intentional deceit; accidents are usually unintended.
• interval: Time span; not causal for an accident by itself.
• ignorance: A broader cause; not the lexical equivalent of “lapse.”

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing causes (ignorance) with event-type (error). “Lapse” names the slip itself, not the underlying knowledge deficit.

Final Answer:
error