In the following vocabulary based sentence completion question, you must choose the most appropriate word to fill in the blank so that the sentence makes clear sense in context: "The big stone monument was the only __________ the lost traveller remembered." Which word best completes this sentence?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your understanding of English vocabulary in the context of travel and location. The sentence describes a lost traveller who remembers only one feature, a big stone monument, that can help him or her identify a place. You must select the word that best expresses the idea of a noticeable feature used for finding or recognising a location. Such questions are very common in general English sections of competitive examinations.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The sentence given is: The big stone monument was the only __________ the lost traveller remembered.
• The traveller is described as lost, which suggests difficulty in orientation.
• The big stone monument is the specific object that stands out in memory.
• The options are specimen, souvenir, piece and landmark.

Concept / Approach:
To solve vocabulary completion questions, you must focus on the key idea of the sentence. Here, the important clues are big stone monument, only and lost traveller. Together they point to something used for way finding or recognition, such as a reference point on a route. In English, the standard word for a prominent object used as a point of reference is landmark. Other words like specimen, souvenir and piece do not carry this meaning and therefore are not suitable in this context.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify what role the big stone monument plays in the sentence. It is the only thing the traveller remembers in order to recognise the place. Step 2: Recall the meaning of landmark. A landmark is a building, monument or natural feature that is easily seen and recognised, often used to navigate or remember a location. Step 3: Test the word landmark in the blank: The big stone monument was the only landmark the lost traveller remembered. This sounds natural and clearly describes a navigational reference point. Step 4: Test other options. Specimen refers to a sample that represents a group, souvenir is a small item kept as a memory of a visit, and piece is too general to express the idea of a notable reference point. Step 5: Since only landmark fits both meaning and tone, option D is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Think about how you speak in real life. When giving directions, you say things like Take a left at the monument, it is a well known landmark. You do not normally call such a monument a specimen or a souvenir in the context of navigation. Moreover, the traveller is lost in the area, so the memory of a landmark helps orient or guide him. This real world use reinforces that landmark is the intended word. Reading the sentence aloud with each option further confirms that only landmark produces a smooth, meaningful and idiomatic sentence.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Specimen means an individual example of something, often used in scientific or biological contexts, such as a specimen of rock or plant. That meaning does not connect naturally to the idea of helping a lost traveller find the way. Souvenir means a small object kept as a reminder of a visit or event, usually something carried away in a bag, not a large stone monument still at the site. Piece is too vague and does not convey the idea of recognisable significance or navigational help. Therefore options A, B and C fail to capture the specific sense required by the sentence.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes overthink such questions and look for uncommon or fancy words, even though the most straightforward word like landmark is exactly right. Others may be distracted by the idea of memory and choose souvenir because it is linked to remembrance, without considering that the traveller is thinking of a structure in the environment, not an object carried home. Always connect the word choices to the complete scenario described in the sentence rather than only to one part of it. This helps you avoid selecting a word that fits loosely but does not truly match the context.

Final Answer:
The big stone monument is best described as a landmark that the lost traveller remembered.