Out of the four alternatives given, choose the one-word substitute for the person described as someone who tends to patronize, rebuff, or ignore people regarded as social inferiors and imitate or admire people regarded as social superiors.

Introduction / Context:
This one-word substitution question focuses on a word describing a particular kind of social attitude. The description given is of a person who looks down on those considered socially inferior and tries to copy or admire those considered socially superior. Such vocabulary questions are common in exams, and knowing this term is also useful for understanding character descriptions in literature and everyday conversation.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Description: someone who tends to patronize, rebuff, or ignore people regarded as social inferiors and imitate or admire people regarded as social superiors.
• Options: Snob, Fob, Dandy, Freak, Aristocrat.
• We assume the behavior involves arrogance and class-consciousness.
• We must choose the standard English word that exactly matches this description.

Concept / Approach:
The word that precisely fits this description is “snob”. A snob is a person who admires and imitates those they consider higher in social status while looking down upon those they consider below them. This is a well-known term in English and perfectly matches the idea of someone who is class-conscious and behaves differently with people based on their perceived status. Other options describe different personality types or have unrelated meanings.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the key aspects of the description: contempt for social inferiors and admiration for social superiors. Step 2: Recall the word “snob”, commonly used for individuals who value status, wealth, or class and treat people differently based on these criteria. Step 3: Check the options to see which one fits exactly. Step 4: “Snob” matches both parts of the description: patronizing those below and imitating those above. Step 5: Confirm that other words like “dandy” or “freak” do not capture this specific social attitude.

Verification / Alternative check:
Use “snob” in a sentence: “He is such a snob; he only talks politely to rich people and ignores everyone else.” This aligns perfectly with the description in the question. The other words do not give the same meaning. Dictionaries also define “snob” as a person who has exaggerated respect for high social position and despises those considered inferior, confirming our choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
“Fob” is not a standard word for such a personality and is generally not used with this meaning.
“Dandy” refers to a man who is excessively concerned with his clothes and appearance, not necessarily with social inferiors or superiors.
“Freak” is an informal term for someone who is very unusual or who is extremely enthusiastic about something, not about class attitudes.
“Aristocrat” refers to a member of the nobility or upper class by birth, but an aristocrat is not necessarily a snob; the word describes social position, not a particular attitude.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may be tempted to choose “aristocrat” because it suggests high social status, but the definition in the question is about behavior and attitude, not about being born into a certain class. Another mistake is guessing based on unfamiliarity with words like “fob” or “dandy” without carefully matching the description. To avoid these errors, always focus on the behavior or quality described and match it to the word you know, rather than choosing based solely on how “high-class” or “fancy” the word sounds.

Final Answer:
The correct one-word substitute is “snob”.