Which of the following words is the most appropriate one-word term for a person who believes that human life and events are governed by fate?

Introduction / Context:
This question again tests vocabulary related to belief in fate, but this time it offers several philosophical terms. Although more than one of these words can be associated with ideas of predestination, standard English one-word substitution questions usually look for the most common and direct term used in general language rather than in specialist philosophy. You must decide which single word fits best as a simple label for someone who believes in fate.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The stem describes a person who believes in fate.
• Option A predestinarian suggests someone who believes in predestination, especially in a theological context.
• Option B determinist believes that all events, including human actions, are determined by preceding events and natural laws.
• Option C fatalist is a person who believes that all events are fixed by fate.
• Option D all of the above would only be acceptable if all three were equally standard answers to the one-word substitution in everyday English.

Concept / Approach:
While predestinarian and determinist are meaningful philosophical labels, they tend to be used in specific academic or religious contexts. The most widely recognised and commonly tested term in general English for someone who believes in fate is fatalist. A fatalist usually carries the sense of someone who passively accepts events as unavoidable because they are destined to happen. Because exam one-word substitutions aim at the most typical, straightforward word, fatalist is the best answer among the options.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Rephrase the stem: we need a simple term for a person who thinks that everything is already decided by fate.Step 2: Recognise that fatalist is directly built from fate and is commonly defined as someone who believes that events are fixed and cannot be changed.Step 3: Consider predestinarian. This word is tied closely to doctrines of predestination in theology and is comparatively rare in general usage.Step 4: Consider determinist, which is related to philosophical determinism and natural causes, not necessarily to the idea of fate in the ordinary sense.Step 5: Conclude that because the question does not mention complex doctrines and simply says believes in fate, fatalist is the most appropriate one-word substitute.

Verification / Alternative check:
In typical competitive-exam vocabulary books and practice questions, the word used for one who believes in fate is consistently fatalist. You will often see pairs like optimist, pessimist, and fatalist in word lists describing attitudes to life. The terms predestinarian and determinist are much less common and are usually not presented as the standard answers for this simple definition. Checking usage in simple example sentences reinforces this: He is a fatalist; he believes that everything is written is much more natural than He is a predestinarian in everyday English.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Predestinarian and determinist do connect to related philosophical ideas but are too technical and do not directly match the usual exam key for this common definition. They emphasise specific doctrinal frameworks rather than the general idea of believing in fate. All of the above is incorrect because exam questions like this are typically designed with a single clear best answer, and fatalist is that answer here.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates may be tempted by all of the above because all three words sound technical and may seem related. However, this question belongs to the one-word substitution pattern where the expected answer is the simplest and most widely known word. A good strategy is to ask yourself which of the words you are most likely to see in a standard high-school level English book explaining belief in fate. That reasoning reliably leads to fatalist.

Final Answer:
The most appropriate one-word term in common English for a person who believes in fate is Fatalist, so option C is correct.