That single ---------------- was enough to spoil a whole lifetime of good living

Analyze the question: This is a spelling question. You must pick the correctly spelled word that fits the gap: "That single __ was enough to spoil a whole lifetime of good living."

Explain the concept: The word is occurrence (a noun meaning an event or something that happens). It is commonly misspelled because of its double letters. The rule is that it comes from occur, and when we add the suffix -ence, the final consonant "r" doubles because the stress falls on the last syllable (oc-CUR → oc-CUR-rence).

Solution:

Check each option:

• A. occurrence has double c, double r, and ends in -ence. Correct.
• B. occurence has only one r. Wrong.
• C. ocurrence has only one c. Wrong.
• D. occurense ends in -ense instead of -ence. Wrong.

Fitting it into the sentence: "That single occurrence was enough to spoil a whole lifetime of good living." The meaning is clear, since one event ruined a lifetime of good conduct.

Tip: Remember the word as "two C's, two R's, then -ENCE": oc-cur-rence. Other double-letter words in the same pattern are occasion, recurrence, and committee. If you can spot the doubled letters, you can eliminate the wrong options quickly in the exam.