In the following one word substitution question on English vocabulary, choose the alternative that best replaces the phrase "a person who preserves skin of animals", that is, a specialist who prepares and mounts animal skins for display.

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your knowledge of one word substitutions in English, focusing on professional terms. The phrase "a person who preserves skin of animals" refers to a technical occupation involved in preparing, stuffing, and mounting animals for display in museums, educational institutions, or as hunting trophies. Knowing the correct term is essential for scoring well in vocabulary based sections of competitive exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The descriptive phrase is "a person who preserves skin of animals".
• Four professional or technical terms are provided as options.
• Only one option accurately fits the described occupation.
• You are expected to either know or logically deduce the profession name.

Concept / Approach:
The correct term here is "taxidermist". Taxidermy is the art and science of preparing, stuffing, and mounting the skins of animals to make them look lifelike, usually for display. The word combines Greek "taxis" (arrangement) and "derma" (skin). The other options refer to entirely different fields: "philologist" is a language scholar, "oculist" is an eye specialist, and "biloquist" is an old term for a ventriloquist. Therefore, the one word that matches the given description is "taxidermist".

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the key idea in the phrase: preserving and preparing the skin of animals. Step 2: Recall that the craft or profession dealing with animal skins for display is called taxidermy. Step 3: Identify the person who performs taxidermy: a taxidermist. Step 4: Match this memory with the given options and locate "Taxidermist". Step 5: Verify that the remaining options describe completely different professions and therefore cannot be correct.

Verification / Alternative check:
Consider where you might encounter this profession. Museums often display birds, mammals, or reptiles that look alive but are preserved specimens. The professionals who prepare these exhibition pieces are taxidermists who treat and mount the skins. In contrast, a philologist studies historical texts and languages, an oculist treats eye problems, and a biloquist or ventriloquist performs speech tricks. This real world association confirms that "Taxidermist" is the only correct match for the description.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Option A, "Biloquist", refers to a person who can speak in two voices (ventriloquist) and has nothing to do with animal skins.
• Option B, "Philologist", describes a scholar who studies language in written historical sources.
• Option D, "Oculist", is an older term for an eye doctor or eye specialist.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes get confused by unfamiliar professional terms and may choose at random. Others may be distracted by the scientific sound of words like "philologist" or "oculist" without knowing their correct meanings. To avoid such mistakes, focus on the roots of words whenever possible and build a mental connection between the profession and its real world activity. Learning common one word substitutions systematically will significantly boost your accuracy in similar questions.

Final Answer:
The correct one word substitution for "a person who preserves skin of animals" is Taxidermist, so Option C is the right answer.