Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: grossest
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Spelling accuracy is crucial for formal writing, and competitive exams frequently test this skill through questions that ask candidates to identify the correctly spelled word among several near misses. In this problem, four words that resemble possible English words are presented, but only one is correctly spelled. The ability to distinguish correct spelling from plausible but incorrect variations reflects a learner exposure to authentic written English.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Four options are given that look like English words.
- Three are incorrect spellings or nonstandard forms.
- One option matches standard dictionary spelling.
- The task is to identify that one correct option.
Concept / Approach:
The best approach in spelling questions is to rely on prior reading experience and to analyse each option in terms of familiar word patterns. "Grossest" is the superlative form of "gross", meaning most disgusting or most serious. It follows standard rules for forming the superlative by adding "est". The other options appear to be distorted versions of words like "genetics", "storage", or "granite", but each one contains a letter sequence that does not match standard spelling. Recognising typical suffixes and consonant combinations helps in quickly discarding faulty forms.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Look at option a, "genatics". It resembles "genetics" but replaces the second "e" with an "a", which is not correct in the scientific term for the study of genes.
Step 2: Look at option b, "sterage". This seems to be a misspelling of "storage", where the vowel "o" has been incorrectly changed to "e".
Step 3: Look at option c, "grossest". This is the regular superlative of "gross", formed by adding "est". It is a recognised word, for example, "That was the grossest mistake of the match."
Step 4: Look at option d, "granaite". This appears to be a mistaken version of "granite", a type of rock. The extra "a" makes the spelling wrong.
Step 5: Since only "grossest" matches a standard, well known English word, option c is the correct answer.
Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, imagine reading a newspaper sports column. A commentator might say "It was the grossest foul of the season." That use of "grossest" is normal. On the other hand, you would never see "genatics" in a biology textbook or "sterage" in a business article; those words simply do not occur in serious writing. Similarly, geological books talk about "granite", not "granaite". This real world check against likely reading experiences confirms that "grossest" is the only valid spelling.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option a "genatics" is wrong because the correct term for the branch of biology is "genetics".
Option b "sterage" is wrong because the correct spelling of the noun related to storing goods is "storage".
Option d "granaite" is wrong because the correct spelling of the rock type is "granite" without the extra "a".
Common Pitfalls:
A common error is to choose an option that looks unusual, assuming that the most unfamiliar form is correct. Examination setters deliberately use distorted versions of real words to tempt candidates into guessing. To avoid this, learners should develop a habit of reading widely and noticing spelling in headlines, textbooks, and official documents. Comfort with common suffixes such as "ics", "age", "ite", and "est" also makes it easier to recognise incorrect combinations like "atics" or "sterage".
Final Answer:
The correctly spelled English word among the options is grossest.
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