In the following question on one word substitution, choose the single word that best describes a person who is lazy and has low standards of cleanliness.

Introduction / Context: One word substitution questions test the ability to match a descriptive phrase with a single precise English word. This is useful both for examinations and for effective communication, where concise language is valued. The phrase given describes a person who is lazy and has low standards of cleanliness. The task is to identify which of the options is commonly used in English for someone who is untidy, careless about hygiene, and often messy in habits and surroundings. Recognising such words helps candidates understand descriptions in texts and also express themselves more accurately.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Description: a person who is lazy and has low standards of cleanliness.
• Options: hog, slob, swine, brute.
• The word should be in regular modern English usage.
• Only one option should clearly match the description.

Concept / Approach: We need to distinguish between words that literally refer to animals and those that are used as figurative labels for human behaviour. While hog and swine are names of animals and can be used metaphorically, their primary association is with greed or dirtiness in eating, not specifically with laziness and poor hygiene. Brute suggests a cruel or violent person lacking sensitivity. The word slob, however, is a widely used informal term in English for someone who is habitually untidy, careless about appearance, and often lazy about cleaning or organising. Therefore, slob best captures both laziness and dirtiness in one compact word.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check: To verify, we can use the options in example sentences. If we say He is a complete slob, it naturally conveys a picture of someone whose room is messy, whose clothes are dirty, and who does not care much about cleanliness or tidiness. Replacing slob with hog, swine, or brute changes the mental picture and emphasises other traits like greed, cruelty, or violence. Dictionaries and standard usage guides also define slob as a person who is lazy and untidy. This confirms that slob is the precise one word substitute required by the question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Hog refers to a pig and is often used metaphorically for a greedy or selfish person who takes more than their share, not specifically for laziness and lack of cleanliness.
• Swine also means pig and is a strong insult that suggests someone is disgusting or mean, but it is not the standard label for an untidy person in everyday speech.
• Brute describes someone who is cruel, savage, or lacking in human feelings, which is different from simply being lazy and dirty.

Common Pitfalls: A typical mistake in such questions is to choose a word only based on its negative tone, without checking whether its meaning matches all parts of the description. Since all four options sound insulting, candidates may randomly pick any animal word. Another pitfall is to assume that any animal related word must refer to dirtiness alone. To avoid these problems, learners should focus on the exact traits mentioned in the phrase and try to recall the core meaning and typical usage of each option. Building a mental link between slob and messy, untidy person makes it easier to answer such questions quickly in exams.

Final Answer:slob