৩৯. The singular form of "criteria" is —

Correct Answer: (B) criterion Singular and plural forms of irregular nouns (especially those of Latin and Greek origin) are frequently tested in NTRCA English grammar. Analysis: — Criteria is the PLURAL form of the Greek-origin word criterion — Criterion (singular) → Criteria (plural) — This follows the Greek/Latin pattern: -on → -a — Example: "What is your criterion for selecting candidates?" (singular) — "There are several criteria for this position." (plural) Similar irregular noun pairs (Greek/Latin origin): — Phenomenon → Phenomena — Criterion → Criteria — Datum → Data — Medium → Media — Curriculum → Curricula — Memorandum → Memoranda — Bacterium → Bacteria — Stratum → Strata — Appendix → Appendices Common errors: — "Criteria is" → WRONG (criteria is plural, use "criteria are") — "One criteria" → WRONG (should be "one criterion") Source: Oxford English Grammar; Cambridge English Reference Grammar; Past NTRCA Question Bank.