Choose the correct one-word substitution for: ‘An act of intentionally setting fire to property’.

Correct — C. The defining element is setting fire. Arson is the criminal act of deliberately setting fire to property → option (c).

The word goes back to Latin ardere, 'to burn', the root of ardent.

Why the others are wrong

• (a)
  Burglary — Burglary is entering a building unlawfully to commit a crime, especially theft. It is defined by the break-in, not by fire.
• (b)
  Vandalism — Vandalism is deliberate damage to public or private property by any means. A fire can be vandalism, but the word does not name fire, and arson does.
• (d)
  Sabotage — Sabotage is deliberate destruction or obstruction, especially for political or military advantage. Its core is the motive, disruption, not the use of fire.

One-word substitutes are decided by the defining element of the phrase. All four options are offences involving property, so the field alone does not separate them.

The phrase gives the detail that does: setting fire. Burglary is breaking in, vandalism is damage of any kind, sabotage is damage to disrupt, and arson is fire.

Vandalism is named after the Vandals, a Germanic people who sacked Rome in AD 455.

Key facts

• Arson is the criminal act of deliberately setting fire to property.
• Burglary is illegal entry into a building with intent to commit a crime, especially theft.
• Vandalism is deliberate destruction of or damage to public or private property.
• Sabotage is deliberate destruction or obstruction, especially for political or military advantage.

Common traps

• Choosing Vandalism because fire damages property, when the phrase names the specific act of setting fire
• Choosing Sabotage because it means deliberate destruction, without checking that the phrase says nothing about disruption

No directly related past PYQ was found.