Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Continuous
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question tests spelling recognition of a common English adjective meaning without interruption. Four different spellings are given, and only one matches the standard spelling found in good dictionaries. Such items check whether candidates have paid attention to written forms while reading and writing English, and they are frequently used in competitive exams.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- The four variants are Continuous, Continous, Contenuous and Countionuous.
- The intended word means ongoing, without a break.
- Only one of these options is correctly spelt.
- Knowledge of the base word continue may help.
Concept / Approach:
The correct adjective derived from the verb continue is continuous. The root is c o n t i n u and the suffix is o u s. Any extra letters inserted or letters omitted produce misspellings. The approach is to recall the spelling of continuous from familiar phrases like continuous assessment, continuous rain or continuous process, and then visually match it with the options.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the base word continue. Adding the suffix ous gives continuous, with the letters arranged as c o n t i n u o u s.
Step 2: Compare option A: Continuous. It matches the pattern exactly and is a familiar form.
Step 3: Compare option B: Continous. This version misses one u and is therefore incorrect.
Step 4: Compare option C: Contenuous. This introduces an extra e and changes the vowel pattern, which is not standard.
Step 5: Compare option D: Countionuous. This rearranges letters in a way that does not reflect any known English word. Thus A is the only correctly spelt option.
Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify by recalling the related noun continuity and the verb to continue. Both contain the sequence c o n t i n u. When we add the suffix ous to this sequence, we obtain continuous. A dictionary check will show continuous as the correct adjective meaning without interruption, whereas the other given forms do not appear as valid words.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B: Continous omits one u and breaks the link with the base word continue.
Option C: Contenuous alters both vowel and consonant positions and does not correspond to the correct root.
Option D: Countionuous is a jumbled form that does not match any standard English spelling.
Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes misplace vowels when adding common adjective endings such as ous or ious. They may write continous by analogy with words like famous, which have only one u. Paying attention to the exact spelling of base words and practising word families avoids such errors. Reading widely and noticing spellings in context is one of the best long term strategies for improvement.
Final Answer:
The correctly spelt word is Continuous, so option A is correct.
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