Choose the correct option given below to fill in the blank.
I could not stand in that room as there was a __________ smell.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → foul
Foul means very unpleasant or dirty, especially in smell or taste. A foul smell is a bad smell, which is why the speaker could not stay in the room.
Example: A foul smell came from the drain.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: fowl — Incorrect. Fowl is a noun meaning a bird, such as a hen or duck, kept for its eggs or meat. (Foul and fowl sound alike: foul describes something bad, fowl is a bird.)
Example: The farmer keeps fowl in his backyard.
Option 2: foil — Incorrect. Foil is a very thin sheet of metal, or as a verb, to stop a plan from succeeding; it does not describe a smell.
Example: The police foiled the robbery.
Option 4: fuel — Incorrect. Fuel is a material burnt to produce heat or power, such as petrol or coal; it is a noun, not a word that describes a smell.
Example: The car ran out of fuel.