Fill in the blank with the correctly spelt word.
The king's ______ reign led to widespread unrest among the people.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Correct Answer
despotic
Explanation
Rule: Adjectives ending in the suffix sound "-ic" are spelled with a single "c" in modern English.
Formula: despot + ic = despotic
Application: The word means tyrannical or autocratic. Options 1, 2, and 4 introduce incorrect double letters ("pp", "ss") or an outdated "-ck" ending.