In the following question, out of the four alternatives, choose the one which can be substituted for the given words/sentence. Fear of ugliness.

Correct — B. Each option names a fear with a prefix in front of -phobia, so the prefix decides.

Caco- comes from Greek kakos, bad, the root also found in cacophony (a harsh, unpleasant noise).

So cacophobia is the fear of ugliness. That is option (b).

Why the others are wrong

• (a)
  Arachnophobia — Arachnophobia is the fear of spiders, from Greek arachne, spider. The same root gives arachnid.
• (c)
  Hydrophobia — Hydrophobia is the fear of water (hydro-, as in hydroelectric). It is also an old name for rabies.
• (d)
  Acrophobia — Acrophobia is the fear of heights, from Greek akros, topmost, also found in acropolis (the high city).

One-word substitutes for fears are built as prefix + -phobia, so knowing the prefix is enough.

caco- (bad): cacophobia, cacophony
arachn- (spider): arachnophobia
hydro- (water): hydrophobia
acro- (height, summit): acrophobia

Key facts

• Cacophobia: fear of ugliness.
• Acrophobia: fear of heights.
• Claustrophobia: fear of closed spaces.
• Hydrophobia: fear of water, and an old name for rabies.

Common traps

• Tying caco- to sound because of cacophony: the prefix means bad, and here it applies to looks.
• Confusing acrophobia (heights) with agoraphobia (open or crowded places).

No directly related past PYQ was found.