In this one word substitution question, choose the single word that best replaces the phrase "A person who is blamed for the wrong doings of others."

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Scapegoat

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This is a one word substitution question. You are given a descriptive phrase, "A person who is blamed for the wrong doings of others", and asked to pick the single English word that conveys this idea. Such questions test how well you know concise vocabulary used in news reports, essays, and everyday speech when describing people roles or situations.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Phrase: "A person who is blamed for the wrong doings of others."
  • Options: Bursar, Captor, Phlegmatic, Scapegoat.
  • We assume the question is about someone unfairly receiving blame that properly belongs to others.
  • The correct answer should match this exact sense.


Concept / Approach:
The word "scapegoat" is widely used to describe a person who is made to bear the blame for the faults or crimes of others. The term originates from a Biblical ritual but is now common in modern language. The other options refer to completely different roles or personality traits. So, you must match definitions carefully rather than rely on how sophisticated the word sounds.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the meaning of "scapegoat". It is someone who is punished or blamed so that others, often the real culprits, escape responsibility. Step 2: Check each option. "Bursar" means a person responsible for financial affairs in an institution, such as a college treasurer. Step 3: "Captor" refers to a person who has captured another, such as a kidnapper or a jailer, not someone who receives blame. Step 4: "Phlegmatic" is an adjective describing a calm, unemotional temperament. It is not a noun for a person who is blamed. Step 5: "Scapegoat" exactly matches the idea of a person blamed for others misdeeds, making it the correct one word substitute.


Verification / Alternative check:
Think of typical sentences. In politics, people say "The junior officer became a scapegoat for the scandal." Here the junior officer is blamed while senior officials escape responsibility. You would not say he became a "bursar", "captor", or "phlegmatic" in that context. Those words have completely different meanings. Checking real world usage confirms that "scapegoat" fits the phrase perfectly.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"Bursar" is an official responsible for managing finances, especially in educational institutions; there is no link to being blamed.

"Captor" describes someone who holds another person captive. It is associated with imprisonment, not with blame.

"Phlegmatic" is an adjective describing a calm personality and cannot serve as a noun referring to a person who bears others blame.


Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes pick unusual or less familiar words assuming that the hardest word is always the correct answer. However, competitive exams often use common high frequency words like "scapegoat" that appear regularly in newspapers. The key is to understand and remember such everyday academic vocabulary. Reading editorials and analyses will expose you to these words in natural contexts so that their meanings become very clear.


Final Answer:
The correct one word substitute is "Scapegoat".

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