Select the single word that best substitutes the given phrase: To cut off a branch, limb, or twig from the main body of a tree.

Introduction / Context:
One word substitution questions test concise vocabulary knowledge. The aim is to identify a single verb that captures the full meaning of the phrase given. In this case, the phrase describes the act of cutting off a branch, limb, or twig from a tree. Such questions are common in general English sections of competitive exams to evaluate how precise a candidate can be with word choice.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The phrase is "To cut off a branch, limb, or twig from the main body of a tree".

The options are "dollop", "clop", "lop", and "slop".

We are looking for a verb related to cutting branches or pruning.

The other options may sound similar but have different meanings.

Concept / Approach:

In English, the verb "lop" means to cut off branches or twigs from a tree, especially to prune or trim growth.

"Dollop" refers to a lump or scoop of something soft, such as cream or sauce.

"Clop" is an onomatopoeic word representing the sound of a horse's hooves.

"Slop" refers to spill or splash liquid or wet material, or to messy wet food.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the key action in the phrase, which is cutting off parts of a tree. Step 2: Check option a, "dollop". This word is connected with a lump of food, especially soft food scooped with a spoon; it has nothing to do with trees or cutting. Step 3: Check option b, "clop". This is a sound word used to describe the noise of hooves, again unrelated to cutting branches. Step 4: Check option c, "lop". Dictionaries define "lop" as cutting off branches, twigs, or other parts of a tree, often to shape or reduce it. Step 5: Check option d, "slop". This is used for liquids that spill or for watery food, not for cutting or pruning trees. Step 6: Conclude that "lop" is the only verb that accurately covers the action described in the phrase.

Verification / Alternative check:
Gardening and forestry manuals frequently use expressions like "to lop off branches" or "the tree was lopped to reduce its height". Such usage supports the meaning of "lop" as cutting off branches or unwanted growth. No similar usage exists for "dollop", "clop", or "slop" in this context.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option a is wrong because "dollop" relates to a portion of soft food and cannot describe cutting a tree. Option b is wrong because "clop" is a sound, not an action involving wood or branches. Option d is wrong because "slop" describes messy liquid movement or food, not tree pruning.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may be confused by similar sounding words and choose based on sound rather than meaning. Another pitfall is failing to recall less common verbs like "lop", even though they are standard in certain contexts. Improving one word substitution skills requires not only memorising meanings but also noticing words in their natural context, such as in articles about gardening or nature.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is: lop.