Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Spelling tests in English evaluate a student's grasp of morphological units, specifically root words and suffixes.
The word \(notorious\) is an adjective that follows standard English orthographic patterns for suffixation.
The primary challenge in this word lies in identifying the correct vowels in the middle syllables and the correct form of the descriptive suffix.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us break down the word \(Notorious\) into its constituent parts.
The root is derived from \(notoriety\), which stems from the Latin \(notorius\) (well-known).
In modern English, we use the suffix \(-ous\) to turn nouns or roots into adjectives meaning "full of" or "possessing qualities of."
Let's analyze the incorrect options to highlight common pitfalls:
1. Notoriouss (Option B): The English suffix \(-ous\) is almost always a single 's'. Doubling the 's' is a common error in phonetic spelling but is never used in standard adjectives like \(famous, glorious, or curious\).
2. Noutorious (Option C): This version adds a 'u' after the first 'n'. This reflects a misunderstanding of vowel clusters. The word starts with the simple long 'o' sound.
3. Notoreous (Option D): This swaps the 'i' for an 'e'. The 'i' is phonetically and historically necessary as it connects the root \(notor-\) to the suffix.
The correct construction is: \(Notor\) (root) + \(i\) (connecting vowel) + \(ous\) (suffix) = \(Notorious\).
Example usage: "The outlaw was notorious for his daring escapes from high-security prisons."
It is important to note that while \(famous\) implies a positive reputation, \(notorious\) implies being well-known for something negative or wicked.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The correctly spelt word is \(Notorious\), which is option (a).