In the following question, four words are given, out of which one word is incorrectly spelt. Identify the incorrectly spelt word which does not follow standard English spelling.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Refrendum

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This spelling question aims to test familiarity with everyday English words that often occur in news reports and editorials. Three of the given options are correctly spelt, while one has an internal error. Recognising the correct form is essential for accurate writing as well as for understanding texts about politics, law, and public decision making, where terms like “referendum” frequently appear.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • We are given four words: “Treachery”, “Refrendum”, “Suppression”, and “Resemblance”.
  • Only one of them is incorrectly spelt.
  • We must choose the incorrectly spelt word as the answer.
  • We assume the exam uses standard British or international English spelling.


Concept / Approach:
The key word in this set is “Refrendum”, which is intended to be “referendum”. A referendum is a direct vote by the public on a specific political question or decision. The correct spelling is r e f e r e n d u m. The option “Refrendum” omits a vowel and rearranges letters, making it incorrect. The other words are standard: “Treachery” means betrayal, “Suppression” means the act of stopping or controlling something, and “Resemblance” means similarity. Recognising the correct spelling of “referendum” allows us to confidently mark “Refrendum” as the wrong form.


Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Read each option carefully and recall known spellings from previous reading experience. Step 2: Confirm that “Treachery”, “Suppression”, and “Resemblance” match the standard spellings you have seen in books and newspapers. Step 3: Notice that “Refrendum” looks similar to “referendum” but lacks the second “e” and has the letters in the wrong order. Step 4: Decide that “Refrendum” is the incorrectly spelt word and choose it as the answer.


Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, we can recall how news headlines appear when a country votes on an issue: “The government has announced a national referendum on the new constitution.” This consistent spelling, with “refer” in the first part, makes sense because it is related to referring a question to the people. No reputable source uses “refrendum”. If we look at the other options in example sentences, such as “His treachery shocked his allies”, “The suppression of free speech is a serious concern”, and “There is a striking resemblance between the two paintings”, all appear correct and natural. This contrast confirms that “Refrendum” is the only incorrect form.


Why Other Options Are Wrong (they are correct spellings):

  • Option A: “Treachery” is correctly spelt and commonly used to mean betrayal or disloyal conduct.
  • Option C: “Suppression” is correctly spelt and refers to the act of putting down or restraining something, such as protests or emotions.
  • Option D: “Resemblance” is correctly spelt and denotes similarity between people or things.


Common Pitfalls:
Candidates may be misled by words that look unfamiliar or by silent letters in English. Sometimes, learners mark a correctly spelt word as wrong simply because they have not encountered it often. Another pitfall is the tendency to skim rather than read each letter. Spelling questions require slow, careful reading and comparison with known patterns. A good habit is to pay attention to political terms like “referendum”, “parliament”, and “sovereignty” when reading newspapers, because they are favourite targets in competitive exams.


Final Answer:
The incorrectly spelt word is “Refrendum”, which should be correctly written as “referendum”.

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