In English spelling, choose the word that is correctly spelled among the following options: metaled, lonsome, piquancy, shufled.

Introduction / Context:
Spelling questions are designed to test your familiarity with standard English forms and your ability to recognize minor letter changes that create incorrect words. Here, you are asked to identify the correctly spelled word among four options, three of which contain small errors. Such questions are very common in competitive exams and reward candidates who read widely and pay attention to exact spellings.

Given Data / Assumptions:

Options: 'metaled', 'lonsome', 'piquancy', 'shufled'.
Exactly one option is in standard correct spelling.
We interpret each option as an attempt at common English words such as 'lonesome', 'shuffled', and 'piquancy'.
We assume standard British or international English, not extremely rare variants.

Concept / Approach:
The strategy is to recognize which familiar word each option is trying to represent and then compare it with the correct spelling. 'Piquancy' is a known English noun meaning 'a pleasantly sharp taste or stimulating quality'. The others resemble correct words but with missing or incorrect letters: 'lonsome' for 'lonesome', 'shufled' for 'shuffled', and 'metaled' which is not the usual form for the intended sense in basic vocabulary questions. Therefore, we check them one by one and confirm which matches the dictionary form.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Consider 'lonsome': the common adjective is 'lonesome' (l-o-n-e-s-o-m-e), meaning lonely. The given word drops the 'e', so it is incorrect. Step 2: Consider 'shufled': the verb 'shuffle' in past tense and past participle is 'shuffled' (with a double 'f' and double 'l'), so 'shufled' is wrong. Step 3: Consider 'metaled': while 'metalled' can appear in some British usage when talking about a road with a metalled surface, 'metaled' as written here is not the standard form typically tested in basic spelling questions. It is treated as incorrect in this context. Step 4: Consider 'piquancy': this is the correct spelling of a word meaning a pleasantly sharp or appetizing flavour, or a stimulating, interesting quality. Step 5: Conclude that 'piquancy' is the only correctly spelled word in the list.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, imagine reading these words in a standard English newspaper, novel, or exam passage. 'Piquancy' appears exactly in this form, especially in descriptions of food or stimulating qualities. 'Lonsome' would be immediately recognised as a misspelling of 'lonesome', and 'shufled' would appear wrong beside the correctly spelled 'shuffled'. 'Metaled' is rarely, if ever, seen in general English texts, and therefore is not considered the standard spelling expected in an examination like this.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
'Lonsome' omits the necessary 'e' and is not a valid dictionary entry. 'Shufled' omits both the second 'f' and the second 'l', violating usual English spelling rules for doubling consonants in such forms. 'Metaled' is not the common spelling taught for everyday words and will normally be marked incorrect in a spelling test aimed at general vocabulary. Examiners intentionally insert such near-miss spellings as traps for candidates who only glance at words quickly.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes think that strange-looking words like 'piquancy' must be wrong because they are unfamiliar. In fact, many correct English words come from French or Latin and may look unusual at first. Another pitfall is assuming that every word must follow very simple consonant-doubling rules; however, correct spellings must be learned from exposure and practice, not guessed only from sound. Being comfortable with a wide range of vocabulary helps you avoid these traps.

Final Answer:
The correctly spelled word is 'piquancy'.