One of the statements below contains a word used incorrectly or inappropriately. Choose the option which has the incorrect or inappropriate usage of the word.
One of the statements below contains a word used incorrectly or inappropriately. Choose the option which has the incorrect or inappropriate usage of the word.
Solution
The question is testing for word usage between diffuse and defuse.
To diffuse means to spread out widely or scatter, like how perfume diffuses through a room or how light diffuses through frosted glass. Think of it as making something spread out in all directions, like dropping food coloring in water and watching it spread.
To defuse means to remove the danger from a situation or literally remove the fuse from a bomb. When your mom defuses an argument between you and your sibling by distracting you with ice cream, she's taking the tension out of a potentially explosive situation.
Option 1 -> Correct usage. The aroma spreads/scatters throughout the house.
Option 2 -> Correct usage. The stained glass scatters and spreads the light coming through.
Option 3 -> Incorrect usage. The teacher should "defuse" (remove tension from) the argument, not "diffuse" (spread) it.
Option 4 -> Correct usage. Using a fan to spread out and disperse the accumulated smoke.
Hence, Option 3 is correct