From the given words, select the word which cannot be formed using the letters of the word SYMBOLIC, assuming that no letter is used more times than it appears in the original word SYMBOLIC.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: BASIC

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question is another example of a word formation task, this time based on the word SYMBOLIC. You are asked to determine which of the listed options cannot be constructed using the letters of SYMBOLIC, under the restriction that no letter may be used more often than it occurs in the base word. This type of problem is widely used in competitive examinations to assess a candidate's precision and attention to detail in handling letter patterns.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Base word: SYMBOLIC.
  • Letters available: S, Y, M, B, O, L, I, C (each appears exactly once).
  • Options: BASIC, SMILY, CLIMB, COILS.
  • Letters may be rearranged, but we cannot introduce new letters or exceed the frequency of any letter from SYMBOLIC.


Concept / Approach:
The most effective method is to list the letters from the base word and use that list as a reference set. For each option, we check whether all of its letters appear in this set and whether no letter is required more times than it is available. If an option uses a letter that does not appear in the base word, or demands a repeat beyond the available count, it cannot be formed and is therefore the correct answer. In this case, paying attention to vowels such as A and additional copies of consonants is especially useful.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note the distinct letters in SYMBOLIC: S, Y, M, B, O, L, I, C. There is no letter A and no extra copies of any letter. Step 2: Check SMILY. Its letters are S, M, I, L, Y. All of these letters are present in SYMBOLIC, and each is needed only once. Therefore SMILY can be formed from the base word. Step 3: Check CLIMB. Its letters are C, L, I, M, B. Again, each of these letters occurs in SYMBOLIC, and there is exactly one copy of each, matching the requirement. Thus CLIMB can be formed. Step 4: Check COILS. Its letters are C, O, I, L, S. All of these letters are included in the base set, so COILS can be formed as well. Step 5: Check BASIC. Its letters are B, A, S, I, C. While B, S, I and C all appear in SYMBOLIC, the letter A does not appear anywhere in the base word. Since BASIC requires A and the base word does not supply it, BASIC cannot be formed.


Verification / Alternative check:
As a fast verification method, you can jot down the base letters and then scan each option for any letter not in that list. Looking at SYMBOLIC, you see there is no A. When you then inspect BASIC, the presence of A immediately marks it as impossible to form. For SMILY, CLIMB and COILS, every letter matches the base set with no overuse, confirming that these three options are valid while BASIC is not. This cross-check reinforces the conclusion reached by the more detailed step-by-step reasoning.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
SMILY consists of only S, M, I, L and Y, which are all present in SYMBOLIC. CLIMB uses C, L, I, M and B, also fully contained in the available letter pool. COILS uses C, O, I, L and S, again matching the base letters exactly. Because each of these words can be constructed from SYMBOLIC without violating any rules about frequency or introducing new letters, they do not satisfy the requirement of being impossible to form and therefore are not correct answers.




Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to assume that a less familiar word, such as SMILY, must be wrong, instead of checking letters carefully. Another pitfall is to overlook a missing vowel like A under time pressure, especially when the other letters of a word seem to fit. The best strategy is always to start by listing the distinct letters of the base word and then deliberately check for any letter in each option that is not on that list. This simple habit greatly reduces the chance of error in similar questions.




Final Answer:
Because the base word SYMBOLIC does not contain the letter A, the option BASIC cannot be formed from it, while all the other options can. Therefore BASIC is the correct answer.

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