In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the one word which is the best substitute for the given definition and mark your answer. The remains of something that has been badly damaged.

Introduction / Context:
This question tests recognition of a common noun used to describe the remains of destroyed objects, especially in reports of accidents, natural disasters, and attacks. The given definition points directly to a situation where an object or structure has been badly damaged, and only scattered parts remain. Candidates often see this term in news headlines, so it is a high value vocabulary item for competitive exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Definition: The remains of something that has been badly damaged.
• Options: Pristine, Immaculate, Wreckage, Sterile.
• We assume everyday usage as in damaged vehicles, buildings, or aircraft.
• The answer must describe broken remains, not cleanliness or purity.

Concept / Approach:
The word wreckage refers to the parts of something that are left after it has been seriously damaged or destroyed. Examples include the wreckage of a car after a crash or the wreckage of a building after an explosion. The other options all denote forms of cleanliness or purity. Pristine and immaculate describe things that are clean and perfect, while sterile refers to the absence of germs or ability to reproduce. These meanings are almost opposite to the idea of damage and scattered remains. Therefore the approach is to connect the definition to the typical disaster or accident vocabulary and choose wreckage.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on key ideas in the definition: remains and badly damaged.Step 2: Examine Wreckage. This directly means the broken pieces of something that has been destroyed.Step 3: Examine Pristine. This means in original, pure condition, unspoiled, which contradicts damage.Step 4: Examine Immaculate. This means perfectly clean or faultless, again opposite to damaged.Step 5: Examine Sterile. This means germ free or unable to produce offspring, which is related to cleanliness or medical contexts, not to broken remains. Therefore Wreckage matches perfectly.

Verification / Alternative check:
Think of typical news sentences: Rescuers searched the wreckage of the plane or Crews cleared the wreckage from the highway. If we substitute pristine, immaculate, or sterile in these sentences, the meaning becomes absurd, because those words suggest purity and cleanliness. Only wreckage naturally collocates with search, clear, and remains in such contexts. This confirms that wreckage is the correct one word substitute.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Pristine: This describes something fresh, new, or untouched, such as pristine forest or pristine white snow. Damaged remains are far from pristine. Immaculate: This signifies complete cleanliness or perfection, for example immaculate clothes or an immaculate performance. Again, this is the opposite of damaged remains. Sterile: This is used mainly in medical or biological contexts to indicate lack of germs or inability to reproduce, such as sterile instruments. It has no natural link to broken pieces left after destruction.

Common Pitfalls:
Because three options are positive sounding adjectives, some candidates may be misled by word tone instead of meaning. Another pitfall is confusion between wreck and wreckage. Wreck is the noun or verb referring to the destroyed object or the act of destroying, while wreckage chiefly refers to the collection of remains. For exam purposes, however, remembering that wreckage points to scattered, damaged parts is enough to select it confidently.

Final Answer:
The correct one word substitute is Wreckage.