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DSSSB 12 August 2024
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Select the option that can be used as a one-word substitute for the given group of words.

Fear of snakes

Appeared in: DSSSB 12 August 2024

Explanation

  • Ophiophobia is the correct term for an irrational fear of snakes.
  • The word is derived from two Greek roots: 'ophis' (ὄφις), meaning snake, and 'phobos' (φόβος), meaning fear.
  • This makes it the precise one-word substitute for the given phrase.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

  • Option A: Zoophobia is the fear of animals in general, which is too broad. The question asks for a specific fear of snakes.
  • Option C: Xenophobia is the fear or dislike of strangers or foreigners. It is a social phobia and is unrelated to animals.
  • Option D: Necrophobia is the fear of death or dead things/bodies. It is unrelated to snakes.

Related Visual

Visual explanation — Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
  • Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain One-word substitution for specific phobias as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
  • Understanding etymology (the study of word origins) is a powerful tool for mastering medical and general terminology, which is crucial for nursing students and professionals.
  • While Ophiophobia itself is a psychiatric diagnosis (a type of specific phobia), recognizing the term helps in understanding patient charts and communicating effectively with mental health professionals.
  • What if a patient in a rural clinic reports 'extreme fear of snakes' and refuses to go outside? Recognizing this as a potential phobia (Ophiophobia) allows the nurse to provide appropriate reassurance, avoid triggers, and recommend a mental health consultation, rather than dismissing it as a simple fear.
How to Approach the Question
  • First, identify the core concept in the question, which is 'Fear of snakes'.
  • Next, analyze the structure of the options. Notice that all options end with '-phobia', which is a common suffix meaning 'fear'.
  • Focus on the prefixes: 'Zoo-', 'Ophio-', 'Xeno-', and 'Necro-'.
  • Recall or deduce the meaning of these prefixes. 'Ophio-' is the specific root for 'snake'.
  • Combine the prefix and suffix to find the correct match: Ophio + phobia = Fear of snakes.
  • Eliminate the other options by understanding their meanings: Zoophobia (fear of animals), Xenophobia (fear of strangers), and Necrophobia (fear of death).
Concept Tested & Keywords
  • Concept Tested: One-word substitution for specific phobias
  • Stem keywords: Fear of snakes, one-word substitute
  • Lead-in keywords: Select the option
  • Negative lead-in flag: false

Question ID

QifU8DDCU71M2S03mOlJyg

Reference Book

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) pp. 3869-3872, 3868-3871

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