Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Tracable
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This English spelling question asks you to find the word that is incorrectly spelt among four options. Such questions are designed to test your familiarity with common suffixes and patterns in English, especially endings like “-able” and “-ible”. Correct spelling is important for clear written communication and is frequently tested in competitive exams.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Words ending in “-able” and “-ible” often follow patterns based on their root forms. The word intended here is “traceable”, derived from the verb “trace”. When you add “-able” to a verb ending in “ce”, the correct spelling usually becomes “-ceable”, as in “traceable”, “noticeable”. Therefore, “Tracable” is incorrect and should be spelt “Traceable”.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Examine “Changeable”: spelt correctly; formed from “change” + “able”.Examine “Inedible”: spelt correctly; formed from “edible” with prefix “in-” meaning not eatable.Examine “Tracable”: appears to come from “trace”, but it drops the “e”.Correct formation is “trace” + “able” → “traceable”, keeping the “e”.Examine “Valuable”: spelt correctly; formed from “value” + “able”.Therefore, the incorrectly spelt word is “Tracable”.
Verification / Alternative check:
Use the suspect word in a sentence: “The caller's location was easily tracable.” This looks wrong and may even be highlighted by spell-check software. Correcting it to “traceable” (“The caller's location was easily traceable”) gives the recognised spelling. This confirms that “Tracable” is incorrect.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
“Changeable” correctly retains the “e” before “able”. “Inedible” is the accepted spelling for something that cannot be eaten. “Valuable” is standard spelling for something that has great value. None of these words contain the type of suffix error present in “Tracable”.
Common Pitfalls:
Students often drop silent letters when adding suffixes, especially the final “e”, without checking the correct pattern. Remember that some combinations retain the “e” to preserve pronunciation and standard spelling, such as “traceable” and “noticeable”. Learning a few examples of such words helps you quickly recognize correct and incorrect forms in exams.
Final Answer:
The incorrectly spelt word is Tracable (correct spelling: “traceable”).
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