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In the following English vocabulary question, choose the synonym that best expresses the meaning of the word DEVASTATION.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Destruction

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:

This question tests your understanding of synonyms in English vocabulary. The word "devastation" is widely used in news reports, literature, and everyday speech, especially when talking about natural disasters, war, or large scale loss. Competitive exams frequently ask for the nearest meaning of such high frequency words to assess comprehension skills and the depth of a student vocabulary.


Given Data / Assumptions:

- The word to be explained is "DEVASTATION". - The options are Destruction, Construction, Separation, and Frustration. - The task is to pick the word that is closest in meaning.


Concept / Approach:

Devastation usually refers to very great damage, ruin, or complete destruction of something. It can talk about physical damage, like a city after an earthquake, or deep emotional damage. A good approach is to recall the context where you have seen this word. News headlines such as "The cyclone caused total devastation" clearly hint that the sense is near "destruction" rather than any of the other options.


Step-by-Step Solution:

1. Note that devastation often appears with disasters, war, floods, and other events that cause ruin. 2. Recall that "destruction" means the act of destroying or the state of being destroyed, which matches this idea very closely. 3. Consider "construction", which means building or creating something and is actually the opposite of destruction. 4. Consider "separation", which refers to dividing or splitting things or people and does not convey total ruin. 5. Consider "frustration", which describes the feeling of being upset or annoyed, not the state of physical damage. 6. Since destruction is the only option that captures the sense of ruin and damage, it is the correct synonym for devastation.


Verification / Alternative check:

To verify, imagine the sentence "The storm left a scene of complete devastation". Replacing devastation with "destruction" still makes perfect sense: "The storm left a scene of complete destruction". Doing the same with the other options makes the sentence odd or incorrect. Dictionary definitions also describe devastation as severe and overwhelming destruction or damage, which confirms the choice.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Construction: This is the process of building something and stands in direct contrast to the idea of devastation, which is about damage. Separation: This only refers to dividing or splitting and does not necessarily imply destruction or ruin. Frustration: This is an emotional state of annoyance or disappointment and does not describe physical damage or large scale ruin.


Common Pitfalls:

Some students may confuse emotional devastation with emotional frustration and then wrongly pick "frustration". While both can relate to feelings, devastation suggests a much deeper sense of loss and, more commonly, large scale damage. It is important to focus on the core meaning of the word as used in most contexts and not just rely on weak similarities.


Final Answer:

The synonym that best expresses the meaning of "DEVASTATION" is Destruction.

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