Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Neice
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This spelling based question asks you to identify the one incorrectly spelt word among four options. The other three options are correctly spelt English words. Questions of this type check whether you can distinguish commonly confused letter patterns such as "ie" and "ei", which often cause trouble for learners.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The word "niece" is famously tricky because it uses the "ie" pattern even though it sounds like "nees". The misspelt version "Neice" reverses the letters. The other words are correctly spelt: "conceive" follows the "ei" after c pattern, "leisure" has the correct vowel sequence, and "reign" is the standard spelling for rule or sovereignty. Thus, the only incorrect spelling here is "Neice".
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Examine "Conceive". There is a common rule in English: "i before e except after c" in some words. The spelling "conceive" fits this pattern: "cei" after c.
Step 2: Check "Leisure". This is a standard English word meaning free time, spelt "leisure" with "eis". The option matches this exactly.
Step 3: Look at "Neice". The correct spelling for a daughter of one brother or sister is "niece". The letters "ie" come after n, not "ei". Therefore "Neice" is wrong.
Step 4: Review "Reign". This is a common word in history and politics, referring to the period of rule of a king or queen. The spelling "reign" is correct.
Step 5: Conclude that "Neice" is the incorrectly spelt word among the four.
Verification / Alternative check:
Imagine common collocations. You might write "the reign of a king", "time for leisure activities", and "conceive an idea". All of these spellings would look familiar from textbooks and news articles. However, when you picture greeting cards or family notes, the word appears as "niece", not "neice". This mental cross check with contexts you have seen helps confirm that the error lies in option C.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"Conceive" is spelled correctly and follows a typical English pattern for words derived from Latin roots.
"Leisure" is the standard British and international spelling for free time; "leasure" or other variations would be wrong.
"Reign" correctly represents rule or period of rule and is extremely common in history books.
Common Pitfalls:
Mixing up "ie" and "ei" is a classic spelling problem. A useful memory aid is that "i before e except after c" often holds for words like "receive" and "conceive", but there are exceptions such as "neighbour" and "leisure". The word "niece" is another special case where "ie" comes first. Learning a short list of these exceptions and revisiting them before the exam helps you spot incorrect variations quickly.
Final Answer:
The incorrectly spelt word is "Neice"; the correct spelling is "niece".
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