Fill in the blank with one word :
The word 'novice' signifies a/an __ person.
Fill in the blank with one word :
The word 'novice' signifies a/an __ person.
inexperienced — a 'novice' is someone new to an activity and therefore lacking experience or skill in it, not necessarily foolish.
Marking Scheme
- 11 mark: for the single correct word 'inexperienced' (or an accepted synonym such as 'beginner'/'untrained'/'unskilled').
Hint
'Novice' relates to a beginner who lacks experience, not someone who lacks intelligence.
Quick Oral Answer
'Novice' means an inexperienced or beginner-level person who lacks practice or skill in something.
Analysis & Explanation
This is a vocabulary-in-context question based on 'novice' as used in the stanza.
Concept
- 'Novice' means a person new to an activity, lacking experience or skill in it — here, someone unfamiliar with wild animals
Key Points
- Accepted synonyms: 'beginner', 'untrained', 'unskilled'
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'novice' with words implying foolishness (e.g. 'foolish', 'ignorant') — the word denotes lack of experience, not lack of intelligence
Common Mistakes
- 1Writing 'foolish' or 'stupid' instead of 'inexperienced' - 'novice' refers to lack of experience, not lack of intelligence.
- 2Writing a full sentence or phrase instead of the single word required by the fill-in-the-blank format.
Interesting Facts
'Novice' originally comes from the Latin 'novus', meaning 'new', and was historically used for a new entrant to a religious order before undergoing final vows.
The word choice 'novice' (rather than a simpler word like 'new person') fits the poem's pattern of using slightly formal vocabulary for comic, mock-serious effect.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'novice' mean in this stanza?
It means an inexperienced or beginner person - here, someone unfamiliar with identifying wild animals who would easily get confused.
Is 'foolish' an acceptable answer for this blank?
No, 'novice' relates specifically to lack of experience or training, not to foolishness or lack of intelligence, so 'foolish' would not be correct.