Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Motheaten
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This spelling problem focuses on the correct form of a compound adjective describing something, especially cloth or fabric, that has been damaged by moths. Such descriptive adjectives are common in reading passages and descriptive writing. Recognising and recalling the correct spelling helps improve both comprehension and written accuracy.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The descriptive adjective is "moth-eaten". In a hyphenless version it appears as "motheaten". The correct spelling must preserve both root words clearly: "moth" and "eaten". The vowel combination after "moth" should be "ea" as in "eaten", and there should be no unnecessary repeated letters. Any distortion of these parts results in incorrect spelling.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the usual written form: "moth-eaten".
Step 2: Remove the hyphen to see the continuous form: "motheaten".
Step 3: Examine "Motheatan". This misplaces the vowels and does not properly preserve "eaten".
Step 4: Examine "Mothaten". Here, the order of vowels is wrong again; it does not clearly contain "eaten".
Step 5: Examine "Mothatan". This again fails to reproduce "eaten" correctly.
Step 6: Examine "Motheaten". This clearly shows "moth" plus "eaten" joined together.
Step 7: Examine "Motheatenn". The extra "n" at the end makes the spelling incorrect.
Step 8: Conclude that "Motheaten" is the correctly spelt form among the choices.
Verification / Alternative check:
In usage, you see phrases like "a moth-eaten coat" or "old moth-eaten blankets". Written without a hyphen, the form "motheaten" would still need to preserve the pronunciation and structure of "moth eaten". The version "Motheaten" does this directly, while all other options distort either the root "moth" or the word "eaten". This confirms that "Motheaten" is the correct answer.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"Motheatan" misorders the vowels of "eaten" and does not correspond to any English word.
"Mothaten" omits the second "e" necessary to form "eaten".
"Mothatan" suffers from the same problem; the sequence of letters does not reflect the known word "eaten".
"Motheatenn" adds an extra "n" and again deviates from the standard spelling of "eaten".
Common Pitfalls:
In exam settings, similar looking options can confuse test takers, especially if they rely on approximate sound alone. It is helpful to break such words into their components. Recognising that "moth-eaten" is formed from two very common words makes it easier to see that any major change to "eaten" makes the spelling wrong. Systematically comparing segments rather than relying on a quick glance greatly reduces errors in spelling questions.
Final Answer:
The correctly spelt word is Motheaten (corresponding to "moth-eaten").
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