Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Conduit
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Spelling questions in competitive English exams test your familiarity with common but often misspelt words. The word "conduit" is frequently used in technical, business, and everyday contexts to mean a pipe, channel, or means of transmitting something such as water, electricity, or even information. Recognising the correct spelling is important both for precise writing and for accurate reading comprehension.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- You are asked to choose the correctly spelt English word for "conduit".
- The options are visually similar, with letters rearranged or doubled to create confusion.
- Only one option shows the standard dictionary spelling used in formal English.
Concept / Approach:
The correct spelling of the word is "conduit". It is derived from Latin roots related to leading or bringing together, and it commonly appears in phrases like "electrical conduit", "water conduit", or "a conduit for investment". In spelling-based questions, exam-setters typically change the order of vowels or double consonants wrongly. By mentally pronouncing each option and comparing it with your prior knowledge or with patterns in English spelling, you can identify the right form.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Say the target word slowly in your mind: "con-du-it". Notice the order of sounds.
Step 2: Check each option against this sound pattern. "Conduit" (option b) matches the usual pronunciation and looks familiar from textbooks and articles.
Step 3: See that "Condiut" (option a) swaps the order of the vowels i and u, breaking the usual pattern.
Step 4: Observe that "Connduit" (option c) doubles the consonant n unnecessarily, and "Condeut" (option d) and "Conduet" (option e) both disturb the vowel sequence and do not appear in standard usage.
Verification / Alternative check:
If you recall examples from reading, such as "plastic conduit" in electrical fitting instructions or "a conduit for corruption" in news articles, they always use the spelling "conduit". You can also apply a dictionary check in real-life situations, which will confirm that this is the only accepted spelling. None of the other variants appear in reputable dictionaries or standard English writing.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- "Condiut": misplaces the vowels and does not reflect the correct pronunciation.
- "Connduit": adds an extra n, which is not part of the standard spelling.
- "Condeut" and "Conduet": break the correct vowel pattern and look unfamiliar and incorrect in formal English.
Common Pitfalls:
Candidates often get confused when vowels i and u appear together, especially in less common words. A practical strategy is to connect the spelling to words you have seen in real contexts instead of relying only on how it sounds. Building a small personal list of frequently tested spellings can also help you avoid last-minute confusion in the exam hall.
Final Answer:
The correctly spelt word is "Conduit".
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