For taking part in the unsuccessful ------------------, the mutineers were court-martialed

Analyze the question The sentence is about mutineers (soldiers who rebel against their commanders) who were court-martialed for taking part in an unsuccessful attempt to seize power. We need the word that fits that meaning. This is a question on homophones/spelling: words that sound similar but differ in spelling and meaning.

Explain the concept

• coup (pronounced /kuː/): a sudden, often violent, seizure of power from a government (a coup d'état).
• coupe (pronounced /kuːp/ or /kuːˈpeɪ/): a two-door car with a fixed roof.
• copes: the verb "cope" in the third person singular, meaning to manage or deal with something ("she copes well with stress").
• coope: not a standard English word. It is a distractor.

Step-by-step solution

1. The gap comes after "unsuccessful", so we need a noun naming an event or action.
2. "Mutineers" and "court-martialed" are military terms, so the event is a military rebellion.
3. The word that means a failed attempt to overthrow a government is coup.
4. Check the other options: • A. coope is not a word. • B. copes is a verb, so it does not fit after "unsuccessful". • D. coupe is a car, which makes no sense here.

Full sentence: "For taking part in the unsuccessful coup, the mutineers were court-martialed."

Exam tip Watch for words with silent final letters. In coup, the "p" is silent, as in coup d'état. Adding an "e" gives coupe, a car. Whenever you see "mutiny", "overthrow", "government", or "military takeover", think coup.