Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Reminiscent
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This spelling question belongs to the vocabulary area where adjectives ending in "cent" are frequently confused. The sentence given refers to a mood created by a school alumni gathering. The correct adjective "reminiscent" means reminding you of something from the past. Knowing the spelling of such words is important in descriptive writing and comprehension based questions.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Reminiscent is correctly spelled r e m i n i s c e n t. It carries the sense of calling to mind memories of something similar. The internal sequence "nisce" often causes confusion. A good approach is to recall how the word appears in books or articles and to mentally break it into syllables: re mini scent. This visual memory helps distinguish it from incorrect variants.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Verification / Alternative check:
Form the full sentence: "The school alumni gathering put us in a reminiscent mood." This reads smoothly and clearly conveys the idea that the event reminded everyone of old times. Trying the sentence with any of the other spellings not only looks wrong but also feels unfamiliar to any regular reader of English. Dictionary checks also confirm "reminiscent" as the only correct form.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Common Pitfalls:
Candidates often rely purely on pronunciation, which can hide silent letters or tricky consonant clusters. For words like reminiscent, it is better to learn them by repeated exposure in reading and practice writing. Remember that the cluster "iscent" is common to words such as adolescent and reminiscent, which can help fix the spelling in memory.
Final Answer:
The correctly spelt word that completes the sentence is Reminiscent.
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