Easy

One of the statements below contains a word used incorrectly. Choose the option which has the incorrect or inappropriate usage of the word.

The young scientist built a small, low-cost machine to recycle waste water. It was a simple but ingenious solution to the problem of water shortage in the city.

My friend is an ingenious cook - she can make very delicious dishes from the most ordinary ingredients.

The young man lost all his savings because he was rather ingenious to believe the agent's promises of a well-paid job and a comfortable life in a foreign country.

Teachers say that some children are very ingenious when it comes to finding excuses for not completing their work.

✅ Correct Option: 3

The question is testing for word usage between **ingenious** and **ingenuous**. If you have a friend who can fix any broken gadget with just a paperclip and some tape, you'd call them **ingenious** – they're incredibly clever and creative at solving problems. Think of it as "in-GENIUS" because they're like a genius at coming up with brilliant solutions. On the other hand, if your little brother believes every prank you tell him (like that chocolate milk comes from brown cows), he's being **ingenuous** – charmingly naive and trusting, without any hint of deception or worldly wisdom. Option 1 -> Correct usage. An "ingenious solution" means a clever, creative solution to a problem. Option 2 -> Correct usage. An "ingenious cook" is someone who is creative and clever in the kitchen. Option 3 -> Incorrect usage. Someone who naively believes false promises should be described as "ingenuous" (naive), not "ingenious" (clever). Option 4 -> Correct usage. Children being "ingenious" at finding excuses means they're clever and creative at making up reasons. Hence, Option 3 is correct.

One of the statements below contains a word used incorrectly. Choose the option which has the incorrect or inappropriate usage of the word.

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