Four words are given, out of which only one word is spelt correctly. Choose the correctly spelt form of the word that refers to forged money or documents.

Introduction / Context:
This spelling question asks you to identify the correct form of a fairly common English word used in legal and financial contexts. The word "counterfeit" describes fake money, fake documents, or fake goods produced to deceive others. Spelling accuracy is important not only for exam performance but also for professional communication. The exam setter has created three misleading variants to test whether you can recognise the genuine spelling that appears in dictionaries and serious writing.

Given Data / Assumptions:

Given options: Counterfeit, Counterfeet, Counter feet, Counterfiet.
Only one is the correct standard spelling of the English word meaning fake or forged.
The others are distractors that change vowels or split the word incorrectly.
We assume familiarity with common phrases like "counterfeit currency" and "counterfeit notes".

Concept / Approach:
The correct spelling of the word is "counterfeit", written as one word. It combines "counter" with a form that looks like "feit", not "feet" or "fiet". The distractors take advantage of English pronunciation, where "feit" sounds like "feet", to mislead learners who rely only on sound. Another distractor splits the word into two parts "counter feet", which is incorrect because the meaning has nothing to do with "feet". A sound strategy is to think of real usage in context and recall where you have seen the word correctly written.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the definition of the target word: "counterfeit" means fake money, documents, or goods intended to deceive. Step 2: Examine option A, "Counterfeit". This matches the spelling found in dictionaries and official documents. Step 3: Examine option B, "Counterfeet". This wrongly uses "feet", the plural of foot, which is unrelated to the meaning of fake or forged. Step 4: Examine option C, "Counter feet". Splitting the word into two parts changes the meaning completely and no longer refers to fake items. Step 5: Examine option D, "Counterfiet". Here the vowels i and e are reversed, which is a common exam trick but not the correct spelling. Step 6: Choose option A as it is the only form recognised as the correct spelling in standard English.

Verification / Alternative check:
Think of common phrases like "counterfeit currency", "counterfeit note", or "counterfeit goods" as they appear in newspapers and legal reports. In all of these contexts, the spelling is "counterfeit". Quick mental reference to any bank warning poster or article about fake money also confirms this spelling. None of the other variants appear in reliable texts. This cross checking confirms that option A is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B is wrong because "feet" refers to body parts and has no connection to the meaning of fake or forged items.
Option C is wrong because splitting the word into "counter feet" destroys the original meaning and does not represent any recognised English term in this context.
Option D is wrong because "counterfiet" switches the positions of i and e, a typical trap in spelling questions.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners rely on approximate sound and guess the spelling based on how a word is pronounced, especially with tricky ei and ie combinations. Exam setters exploit this by swapping vowels or adding unnecessary spaces. To avoid such mistakes, build the habit of noticing spellings when you read and of writing down new words correctly several times. Focus especially on high frequency test words like "counterfeit", "occasion", "accommodation", and similar items that often appear in competitive exams.

Final Answer:
Counterfeit