In this spelling based vocabulary question, four words are given. Only one word is spelt correctly according to standard English usage. Choose the correctly spelt word from the options.

Introduction / Context:
This question tests spelling, an essential element of English vocabulary for competitive exams. The word in focus is the plural form of sanctuary, which refers to a protected place, often for wildlife or for worship. The candidate must recognise which of the given spellings matches standard English usage and which are incorrect variations.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The base word is sanctuary.
• The question provides several possible plural spellings.
• Only one option reflects the correct plural form used in dictionaries and formal writing.
• The test taker is assumed to have seen this plural in contexts such as wildlife sanctuaries.

Concept / Approach:
In English, the noun sanctuary forms its plural by changing the singular ending y to ies when preceded by a consonant. Thus, sanctuary becomes sanctuaries. The consonant r comes before y, so the pattern consonant plus y applies. Incorrect spellings often move or delete vowels or consonants, resulting in non standard forms. The strategy is to recall the correct singular, apply the rule, and compare carefully with each option.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Start from the singular sanctuary, which has the spelling s a n c t u a r y. Step 2: Apply the plural rule for nouns ending in consonant plus y, where y changes to ies. Step 3: Replace y with ies to get sanctuaries. Step 4: Compare this with option d, which is exactly sanctuaries. Step 5: Observe that options a, b, c, and e either remove letters, swap vowels, or add extra vowels, so they do not match the correct pattern.

Verification / Alternative check:
We can verify the spelling by recalling common usage in phrases like bird sanctuaries or wildlife sanctuaries. In standard textbooks, newspapers, and exam preparation material, the plural appears as sanctuaries. Checking a reliable dictionary would confirm this spelling. The other variants do not appear as accepted forms and look strange when compared side by side with the singular sanctuary.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option a, Sanctaries, drops the u and a, which no longer reflects the base word sanctuary. Option b, Sanctauries, has the vowel order a u instead of u a, which breaks the pattern and does not match the original word. Option c, Santuaries, misses the c and changes the internal sequence of letters. Option e, Sanctuarees, adds extra vowels and alters the ending, which is not how the plural is formed. None of these forms matches the standard pluralisation rule.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners struggle with words ending in ary, or with the y to ies plural change, especially when the word is not used frequently in daily conversation. A typical pitfall is to rely on approximate pronunciation rather than letter by letter recall. Another mistake is to focus only on the ending and ignore the inner consonant cluster nctu, leading to missing or misplaced letters. Regular exposure to correct spellings through reading can reduce such errors over time.

Final Answer:
The correctly spelt plural form of sanctuary is Sanctuaries, so option d is correct.