Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: CARES
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This word formation question uses the base word PREACHER. You must identify which one of the given options cannot be formed using its letters. The skill tested here is careful observation of letter presence and frequency. Although the words look similar and share many letters, one of them uses an extra letter that is missing in the base word. Spotting this difference quickly and reliably is a core part of verbal reasoning practice for exams.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Base word: PREACHER.
Letters available: P, R, E, A, C, H, E, R.
Options: RECAP, PARCH, PEACH, CARES.
We assume each letter can be used only as many times as it appears in the base word and no new letters may be introduced.
Concept / Approach:
The best method is to first note the available letters and their counts in the base word, then examine each option systematically. An option is valid only if every letter appears in the base word and does not exceed the available frequency. Any option that uses an absent letter is immediately invalid. This approach prevents confusion and ensures that you do not rely on superficial similarity alone.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Count the letters in PREACHER.
P: 1, R: 2, E: 2, A: 1, C: 1, H: 1.
Step 2: Check RECAP.
RECAP needs R, E, C, A, P.
All these letters are available with sufficient counts in PREACHER, so RECAP can be formed.
Step 3: Check PARCH.
PARCH needs P, A, R, C, H.
All these letters appear in PREACHER, so PARCH can be formed.
Step 4: Check PEACH.
PEACH needs P, E, A, C, H.
Each of these letters is present in PREACHER, and the required frequencies are within limits, so PEACH can also be formed.
Step 5: Check CARES.
CARES needs C, A, R, E, S.
The letters C, A, R, and E are present in PREACHER, but S is not present at all.
Therefore CARES cannot be formed from PREACHER.
Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, we scan the base word PREACHER again: P, R, E, A, C, H, E, R. There is clearly no letter S. Every other option can be matched letter by letter against the available consonants and vowels without conflict. Because CARES alone requires an absent letter, it is uniquely impossible to obtain from the base word. This confirms that our analysis for the other options is consistent and that CARES is the only correct choice for this question.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
RECAP is valid because R, E, C, A and P all appear in PREACHER and are not overused.
PARCH is valid as P, A, R, C and H are all directly available in the base word.
PEACH is also valid since P, E, A, C and H are present and within frequency limits.
These three words therefore can be formed and do not satisfy the requirement to identify the word that cannot be formed.
Common Pitfalls:
Examinees often see familiar words like CARES and assume they must be formable, especially when most of the letters match. It is easy to overlook a single extra letter such as S, which does not appear in PREACHER. Another mistake is to lose track of letter counts for repeated letters like R and E, but in this question the counts are comfortable for all valid options. To avoid mistakes, always check for any new letter that is absent in the base word before worrying about counts, since that alone can invalidate an option.
Final Answer:
The word that cannot be formed from the letters of PREACHER is CARES, because it requires the letter S, which is not present in the base word.
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