Choose the one-word term for identification of a disease by carefully studying its signs and symptoms.

Introduction / Context:

This question uses a medical context to test your knowledge of common technical terms that appear in everyday English. Health reports, medical dramas, and newspaper articles frequently use words like diagnosis, prognosis, prescription, and biopsy. Being able to choose the correct one-word substitution helps you understand such texts accurately.

Given Data / Assumptions:

Concept / Approach:

Diagnosis refers to the process and result of identifying a disease or medical condition by examining the symptoms, signs, and test reports. Prescription is the doctor written instruction for medication, prognosis is a prediction about the likely course of the disease, and biopsy is the removal of tissue for examination. Only diagnosis matches the description of recognizing the disease from symptoms.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Imagine a doctor telling a patient, "We need to confirm the diagnosis" or "After examining your symptoms, the diagnosis is pneumonia". This confirms that diagnosis is about identifying the disease. A doctor may then write a prescription and discuss the prognosis. This sequence makes it clear that the question is referring specifically to diagnosis.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Common Pitfalls:

Candidates sometimes confuse prognosis with diagnosis because both are medical terms used in the same context. Remember that diagnosis answers the question "What disease is this?", while prognosis answers "How will this disease progress?". Keeping this difference clear will help you answer related questions correctly.

Final Answer:

The correct one-word term for "identification of a disease by its symptoms" is Diagnosis.