Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Summit
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This verbal reasoning problem requires you to inspect a base word and identify which of the given options cannot be constructed from its letters. The base word MEASUREMENT provides a specific pool of letters, and each option must be checked against that pool. This type of question reinforces accuracy in counting letters and recognising impossible combinations.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The method is letter frequency comparison. First, we list all distinct letters of the base word along with their counts. Then, for each option, we check whether all required letters exist in the base word and whether the base word contains them in sufficient quantities. If any option uses a letter that does not appear at all, or exceeds the available count, that option is impossible to form and becomes the correct answer.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Count letters in MEASUREMENT. We have M(2), E(3), A(1), S(1), U(1), R(1), N(1), T(1).
Step 2: Check Master. Required letters: M, A, S, T, E, R. Each of these appears at least once in the base word, and no letter exceeds its available count. Therefore Master can be formed.
Step 3: Check Eastern. Required letters: E, A, S, T, E, R, N. We need E(2), A(1), S(1), T(1), R(1), N(1). The base word has E(3) and all other letters in at least these counts, so Eastern can be formed.
Step 4: Check Summit. Required letters: S, U, M, M, I, T. The base word provides S(1), U(1), M(2), T(1), but there is no I in MEASUREMENT. Therefore Summit cannot be formed.
Step 5: Check Mean. Required letters: M, E, A, N. All these letters exist with sufficient counts, so Mean can be formed.
Step 6: Check Stream. Required letters: S, T, R, E, A, M. Each of these letters appears at least once in the base word, and the counts are adequate. Therefore Stream can also be formed.
Verification / Alternative check:
A quick verification method is to scan each option for letters that do not appear in MEASUREMENT. Visual inspection reveals that Summit includes I, which is absent from the base word. None of the other options use any letter outside the set M, E, A, S, U, R, N, T. This immediately confirms that Summit is the only impossible word to build from the given letters, matching the detailed count based analysis.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Master is wrong as the answer because all its letters are clearly present in MEASUREMENT.
Eastern is wrong because the base word has enough E letters and all other letters needed to construct it.
Mean is wrong since M, E, A, and N are all present and easily combined to form this word.
Stream is wrong because it uses only letters S, T, R, E, A, M, which are fully available in the base word.
Common Pitfalls:
One common pitfall is overlooking a single missing letter, especially vowels like I. Another error is not accounting for multiple occurrences of the same letter, for example when a word needs two Ms or multiple Es. Learners may also be tempted to choose longer or more unusual sounding words, assuming they are less likely to be formable. Systematic letter counting and a quick scan for unfamiliar letters help avoid these mistakes.
Final Answer:
The word that cannot be formed from MEASUREMENT is Summit.
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