Choose the option that completes the sentence using the correct spelling.
The scientists had to do an ______ amount of research on the project.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Correct Answer
extraordinary
Explanation
Morphological Structure: The word is formed by combining the Latin prefix extra- (meaning outside or beyond) with the base adjective ordinary (meaning common or usual). Joining these two distinct components creates the unified spelling extraordinary.
Phonetic Pitfalls: In spoken English, the letter 'a' at the end of the prefix extra- is often dropped or blended ('ex-tror-di-nary'). However, the written spelling must retain the full prefix structure.
Incorrect Alternatives: Options containing variations like 'ecstraordinary' introduce incorrect consonant clusters that violate standard English orthography rules for this specific word.
Key Points
Word: extraordinary
Meaning: Very unusual, remarkable, or exceeding what is regular or customary.
Grammatical Role: Adjective (functions as a pre-noun modifier describing the noun amount).