Out of the four alternatives given, choose the one word that can be substituted for the following description: A person who is new to a profession.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Novice

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
One word substitution questions ask you to replace a longer descriptive phrase with a single precise word. This type of question is very common in competitive English exams. Here, the description focuses on a person who is just beginning in a particular profession and therefore lacks experience. Recognising the correct term for such a person is useful in both formal and informal communication.


Given Data / Assumptions:
The phrase to be replaced is A person who is new to a profession. The options provided are Expert, Coach, Tutor, and Novice. The task is to find which single word exactly captures the idea of newness and inexperience in a field or occupation. We assume that the context is general and not limited to any specialised domain like law or medicine that might have its own jargon.


Concept / Approach:
The word novice refers to someone who is new to a particular activity, job, or skill and who has very little experience. It is widely used to contrast with experienced or expert. The other options describe roles or levels of mastery that do not fit the idea of a beginner. Therefore, novice is the correct one word substitute for the given phrase in standard English usage.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the key idea in the phrase: new to a profession and therefore lacking experience. Step 2: Recall that novice is commonly used to describe a beginner or someone in the early stages of learning. Step 3: Examine each option and match it with its usual meaning: Expert, Coach, Tutor, and Novice. Step 4: Note that Expert means highly skilled, Coach and Tutor refer to teachers or trainers, while Novice fits the beginner description. Step 5: Select Novice as the one word that accurately replaces the given phrase.


Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, we can build example sentences. Instead of saying She is a person who is new to this profession, we can say She is a novice in this profession, which clearly conveys the same meaning. If we try to substitute Expert, Coach, or Tutor, the sentence would imply high skill or teaching responsibility, which conflicts with the idea of being new. This simple substitution confirms that novice is the precise and correct choice.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Expert describes someone who has a high level of knowledge or skill in a particular area and suggests long experience rather than newness.
Coach is a person who trains others, for example in sports or performance, and usually has significant expertise.
Tutor is someone who gives individual or small group instruction, again indicating a role based on knowledge and teaching rather than inexperience.


Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may confuse novice with words like apprentice, trainee, or intern. While those terms also refer to beginners, they usually involve formal training arrangements. Novice is more general and can apply to anyone who has just started an activity or profession. Building a small mental group of such terms, along with their specific nuances, will help you distinguish them accurately in exam situations.


Final Answer:
The correct one word substitute for A person who is new to a profession is Novice.

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