Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: impoverish
Explanation:
Introduction:
Spelling questions test careful observation and familiarity with common word patterns in English. The word here is the verb that means to make someone poor or to reduce a person or region to poverty. It is often used in economic, social, and political contexts. Selecting the correct spelling ensures clarity in formal writing and prevents misunderstandings in exams and professional communication.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The correct word is impoverish, formed from the adjective impoverished and ultimately linked to the noun poverty. The spelling pattern follows im plus pover plus ish. There is a single m, the vowel sequence is po followed by ver, and the ending ish remains unchanged. Spotting extra consonants or swapped vowels helps eliminate wrong spellings. Familiarity with related words like poverty and poor also supports correct recognition.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the standard form of the word meaning to make someone poor, which is impoverish.
Step 2: Examine option C, impoverish, and confirm that it matches this memory.
Step 3: Compare other options and notice errors like double m, wrong vowel order, or both.
Step 4: Choose impoverish as the correctly spelt word.
Verification / Alternative check:
When we look at dictionaries or reliable text examples, we always find impoverish with a single m and the vowel sequence i m p o v e r i s h. Sentences like Policies that impoverish rural farmers provide further confirmation. None of the alternative spellings appear in standard English references.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, impovarish, wrongly uses the vowel sequence o a instead of o e and changes the root pattern. Option B, immpoverish, incorrectly doubles the consonant m. Option D, immpovarish, combines both the extra m and the faulty vowel order, making it doubly incorrect. These forms would be marked as spelling errors in any formal setting.
Common Pitfalls:
Examinees sometimes rely only on the sound of a word and overlook root structure. Remember that many English words preserve their root spelling across related forms. Linking impoverish to poverty and poor helps fix the correct spelling in memory. Regular reading and writing also reduce such spelling mistakes in the long term.
Final Answer:
impoverish is the correctly spelt form of the word meaning to make someone poor.
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